{UAH} Furious single mum who can't afford daughter's £1,850 South Africa school trip says 'only the privileged will go'
|
3:19 PM |
No comments |
Furious single mum who can't afford daughter's £1,850 South Africa school trip says 'only the privileged will go'
Parents who feel pressured to fork out thousands so their kids can join pals on trips are raging about the upfront demands for cash, teacher's union finds
Children are missing out on school trips because families are unable to afford the soaring costs to exotic far-flung locations.
And parents are angry that pupils face pressure from teachers to get mums and dads to fork out, according to research by teachers' union the NASUWT.
Louise Worrell, 32, told how upset she was at having to tell her daughter she couldn't go on a trip to South Africa because she couldn't afford the £1,850 payment.
The single mum said: "It is ridiculous and my daughter is going to be left out.
"Unless I win the lottery, I am going to have to tell her she can't go."
Are you affected by the soaring cost of school trips? Share your experience and send examples of the most expensive to webnews@mirror.co.uk
Ms Worrell, of Croydon, South London, said friends of her daughter Nevaeh, 13, in year nine of Woodcote High School, were already excited about the 10-day trip next Easter.
Ms Worrell added:"We were only told about the trip last month and they want the money by February.
"If I had longer to pay, I think I could have scraped the cash together – it is really unfair.
"I know other parents are struggling to pay and some are putting it on credit cards.
"This is not a private school, it is a state school with a catchment area that includes a lot of children from poor or struggling families.
"It is really divisive and excludes children from lower-income families – and only the privileged will go."
The NASUWT found more than one-in-six parents said they were unable to allow their child to participate in an educational trip or visit in the past year due to costs of up to £3,000.
The survey of 4,000 parents revealed the problem was distressing for them and pupils.
One parent said: "Ski trip was £600. French trip £450. These are for less than a week. They are beyond my funds."
Another added: "When a trip says 'voluntary' contribution, the teachers hassle the children saying they can't go and embarrassing them because we have chosen not to pay.
"Both my younger children have come home in tears because of this which then forced us to pay to save them from the trauma."
Chris Keates, of the NASUWT, said: "Schools should ensure the activities they offer are inclusive. Trips to expensive and exotic locations will exclude large numbers of pupils."
Ms Keates added: "Access to educational opportunities should not be based on parents' ability to pay."
Woodcote High School said its South Africa trips had been running since 2008 and had many educational benefits.
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment