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The Ministry of Education is prepared to increase its offer by $400 for students placed in private secondary schools, taking the figure to $4,000 per student.
The former offer made by the ministry was $2,400, moving the current $1,200 to $3,600. However, the Association of Principals of Private Secondary Schools turned down the offer on August 23.
In a previous interview association spokesman Anthony Mc Colin had told Guardian Media, the new proposed $3,600 per student per term was “unacceptable”, because the schools are in debt and the religious organisations and private individuals who have been assisting financially just “cannot afford to carry the burden any more”.
Yesterday, Education Minister Anthony Garcia said Cabinet on Thursday considered the report of the committee that was appointed to negotiate with the principals of the private secondary schools and decided to “up” the offer.
“As you would be aware, the committee met with representatives of the principals of the private secondary schools and the sum of $3,600 was offered. We understand that the offer was not accepted. In fact, it was brought to our understanding that they wrote to the Minister of Finance rejecting the offer,” said Garcia.
He said Cabinet debated the matter and came to the decision that they would up the offer by $400, which would make it $4,000 per child per term, and this would be for a period of four years.
“We are hoping the matter could come to an end with this decision,” said Garcia. See Page A11