We value and appreciate our teachers and school and their continued effort in delivering education to our children during this pandemic. However, the nation, employers, workers, sole traders and hustlers are all feeling the adverse financial effect of reduced economic activity. Many parents now have significantly reduced disposable income, whether from reduced salary, increased expenses or both. We have all had to adjust our circumstances to manoeuvre this difficult and unexpected situation as best as possible. No one is being left unscathed! The school therefore has to be prepared to make difficult adjustments, where required to ensure that the school fee is commensurate with the level of service to be delivered.

• Parents are currently teaching;
• Parents are buying printing and office supplies and have increased expenses for utilities to facilitate distance learning;
• Lower school children cannot engage in online learning without parental supervision, if only to assist with set-up; Children will be disadvantaged where parents have to work. This also reduces the productive hours of work-at-home parents;
• Children at this age may likely not engage fully and cannot engage for long periods so there wont be much value for money;
• No structure or strategy has been communicated for delivery of e-learning;
• The teachers have not been equippped and trained for delivery of e-learning;

Parents of grade 1 are asking for a 40% reduction in fees which we believe is a more equitable position. We are aware of at least one school that has implemented a tiered discount for different grade levels and has allowed a 40% discount for lower school children. We would be grateful for the Board's re-consideration of the fees for lower school. We also await the requested information regarding methods for e-learning delivery and assessment.

Signed by'

STAPS' Grade 1 Parents