Don’t give PIBG free rein to charge fees

IS education in Malaysia free? I beg to differ.

Every year, the subscription fee for the Teachers-Parents Association (PIBG) seems to be increasing.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Education Minister, said earlier that education in Malaysia is free.

Maybe the Government is not collecting any kind of school fees. But where PIBGs are concerned, they are given a free hand to raise their fees.

It can be anything from RM65 to RM280 a year. To some families, this may not be much, but to poor families, this is a lot of money.

I have heard of children skipping school just because their parents are unable to pay the PIBG fees.

Some schools in Port Dickson don’t allow students to sit for major exams if the PIBG fees are not paid. I really hope the Education Ministry will shed some light on this issue.

LIONEL PERERA,
Port Dickson.