Obligatory and voluntary contributions

Sarn

When our youngster joined primary school this year an obligatory expense request of €150 came in, didn’t think about it much and just paid it. We’ve now received a voluntary contribution request for €180. We will end up paying it but are wondering if this is relatively standard across schools?

Big Bag of Chips

Seems very expensive. Our primary school asks for €50 arts, crafts and photocopying. Book rental used to be included in that but there's o more book rental, but the contribution remained the same. I know schools are stretched and budgets are tight but that figure seems high.

glack

Absolute madness. The school I work in asks for €20 and this includes the cost of insurance (about €8 per child) so basically school is asking for €12 a child. We send the request once with no reminders or pressure to those who don’t wish to pay. Now we are DEIS so would get more grants but still the amounts OPs school are asking for is ridiculous. Was any information given as to how this will be spent?

Dr Robert

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058379936/obligatory-and-voluntary-contributions

That's crazy.

Don't pay the 180. Make sure sure to bring it up if any canvassers arrive on your doorstep.

byhookorbycrook

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058379936/obligatory-and-voluntary-contributions

What does the E150 cover, ? An additional E180 sounds very high, was it explained?