Serious Concern Regarding Continuous Money Collection Practices in Grade 7 Classes

A message from a Grade 7 parent to us at RRCB

Dear Sir / Madam,

I write with deep concern regarding the ongoing practice of repeated money collections in Grade 7 classes at Royal College.

As informed by class teachers, parents are currently requested to contribute funds through “class sponsorships.” While this initially started as a voluntary sponsorship of Rs. 25,000, it has now evolved into regular class collections of Rs. 5,000 per student, functioning in practice as a recurring payment system.

This situation raises several serious concerns:

1. Overlap with SDS Contributions

Parents have already paid the School Development Society (SDS) fee at the beginning of the academic year with the understanding that classroom-related needs and student welfare would be supported through these funds.

Despite this, additional collections are now being requested for similar purposes, creating confusion and financial pressure on parents.

We respectfully request clarity on:

• What expenses are covered under SDS funds

• Why such recurring classroom expenses are not managed through SDS allocations

• When SDS-based funding will replace these parallel collections

2. Normalization of Continuous Class-Level Collections

This practice risks becoming an informal financial system operating parallel to official school mechanisms, without: 

• Approved budgets

• Financial reporting

• Proper audit oversight

Such arrangements place unnecessary responsibility on class teachers and discomfort on parents.

3. Equity, Fairness, and Student Impact

Repeated financial requests — even when labeled “voluntary” — inevitably create:

• Pressure on parents who are unable to contribute regularly

• Feelings of inequality among students

• Unintended perceptions of preferential treatment

Education in a government school must remain free, fair, and dignified for every child, irrespective of a parent’s financial capacity.

4. Need for Institutional Intervention

We respectfully request clarity on the following:

• When will this practice of class-level sponsorship collections be formally reviewed and stopped?

• Will the Principal, Middle School Administration, or Ministry of Education issue clear instructions prohibiting routine classroom money collections?

• How will future classroom needs be addressed through approved institutional mechanisms such as SDS, ministry allocations, or approved fundraising channels?

Conclusion

Parents are willing to support the school in good faith.

However, unregulated, repeated monetary collections at class level cannot be allowed to become normalized, particularly in a national school such as Royal College.

We respectfully request urgent administrative guidance to stop this emerging practice and restore transparency, equity, and proper governance.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.