OPINION: Are voluntary contributions in schools an unfair burden on parents?

As the last few students begin going back to school this week, the topic of ‘voluntary student contribution fees’ has come up in the news.

Many schools across Ireland ask parents if they are in the position to make voluntary contributions to the school that their child attends.

However, even though these contributions are classed as voluntary, many parents feel pressured into contributing to the school, in fear of their children being treated differently if they do not contribute.

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Last year, it was revealed that some schools in Ireland were refusing to accept new pupils unless these ‘voluntary’ contributions were paid.

This is against the department of education’s guidelines, which state that a child’s place in a state school cannot be dependent on parents making any form of payment.

But why is this contribution charge often seen as an unfair burden on struggling parents, even if it is considered ‘voluntary’?
Although these charges are classified as voluntary, many parents feel pressure to pay these contributions, whether it is because schools repeatedly suggest that the voluntary contribution be paid, or on hearing other parents are paying the amount.

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It can worry parents that even though they are not required to pay this voluntary contribution charge, that if they do not their child will miss out or be treated differently compared to children that do pay.

Public education should be free and asking for voluntary contributions could be eliminated if more funding was given to schools.

With the cost of living getting higher every year and more and more parents struggling to make ends meet, the last thing they need on top of the already momentous cost of going back to school, is an ask to contribute even more money towards this.