Teachers’ Union alleges continued school fund collections despite Ministry ban

Monday, 23 February 2026 01:32 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin

Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya

The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has accused schools of continuing to collect money from parents despite a recent public statement by the Education Ministry that such collections are not permitted.

CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said the ongoing practice is placing “a heavy financial burden” on families and contradicts the Ministry’s position.

According to the Union, schools are enforcing payments under multiple categories, with some institutions adopting increasingly strict collection methods in 2026.

The dispute centres on the Education Ministry Circular 5/2015, which outlines guidelines for fund collection in schools. Under the circular, schools are permitted to estimate annual maintenance expenses, divide the total by student numbers, and collect a fixed contribution per student.

The Union argues that the circular has effectively legalised routine fund collection and is being used to justify continuous charges. In addition to annual maintenance payments, the CTU claims that funds are being raised through class-level parent groups for classroom repairs, repainting, desks, notice boards, smart boards, and equipment linked to new education reforms.

The Union described this as a “new method” of collection carried out with the tacit consent of school authorities through selected parents, resulting in multiple payment demands throughout the year.

The CTU has called on Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya to issue a formal written circular prohibiting unauthorised collections, arguing that public statements alone are insufficient to halt the practice. It also demanded the repeal of Circular 5/2015 and the introduction of a clearer directive specifying prohibited practices and penalties for non-compliance.

The Union further raised concerns about large sums reportedly held as fixed deposits by some leading schools, questioning why additional funds are being collected from current students while reserves remain unused. It said such funds should instead be channelled towards student needs.

Additionally, the CTU warned against the maintenance of accounts outside officially recognised School Development Society structures and alleged that some schools are operating multiple accounts under different names involving parents and students, without adequate auditing.