I refer to the letter Kulim school dubiously collecting money .

The move to abolish school fees by a former prime minister was not a brilliant move (the former Education Minister only complied). Schools need the money.

In addition, the move to open the textbook lending scheme to all was not brilliant as well. Now there is a shortage of textbooks nationwide. But let's talk about school fees, shall we?

According to the letter, the school ‘wants RM25' from each pupil. The breakdown is RM10 for examination papers, RM10 for co-curriculum, and RM5 for safety. There are 1,200 pupils in the school.

From the statement above, we can conclude that the school needs capital injection for three separate accounts namely examinations, co-curriculum and safety. Let me share how or rather why a school needs such capital injection.

It is true that there are only four examinations in a primary school. Nevertheless the task of drafting a single question paper is never easy. First, you must comply with the latest format.

Second, you must not breach copyright law. Third, you must apply all the levels of Bloom's Taxonomy in your questioning. An experienced teacher takes approximately three hours to draft a decent question paper.

But she does not do it alone. A panel meeting is usually convened to discuss the question construct. The panel has the right to ask for funding from the examinations account for papers, various referencing materials, ink cartridges, stationery, or even claim from the account for the expenses paid up front.

Photocopying and compiling is only the last phase. It is usually done outside the school to save time but not money. Tell me, which school office does not have a problematic Xerox machine?

RM10 per pupil for co-curriculum is an ‘okay' amount. It pays for the food and transportation cost for your talented daughter to participate in the district-level storytelling competition. It pays for your athletic son to go beyond the district-level in sports.

It pays for the bus charter, food and drinks, and perhaps accommodation for extracurricular excursions. It pays for new sports attires. It pays for the replacement of rusty or worn-out items in the sports store room.

It pays for everything associated with school camping. The bigger the school population, the bigger the cost for extracurricular activities.

RM5 per pupil for safety however, is questionable. Let us assume that the account is there for the best of intentions. How the administrators of SK Hi-Tech, Kulim, Kedah spend the money I cannot say. I only defend the fact that schools need your contributions.

Government schools run on a limited budget. Never mind about the RM200 million allocated for education under the First Economic Stimulus Package. I tell you it's not enough.

Activities are aplenty and most of them are for the benefit of your beloved children. So if your children's school asked for money, then be thankful. It holds testimony that the school has big plans for them.

P.S, No receipt was issued because the payments are no longer called school fees. It is now called ‘additional payment' so as not to trace the mistake back to the ministry.