Do School Managements Have Other Option?
In an ideal world, schools would never have to call out a child because of unpaid tuition. Unfortunately, schools do not operate in ideals; they operate in realities. Many parents see the act of calling a child out due to unpaid fees as cruel, humiliating, or psychologically damaging. While the concern for a child’s emotional well-being is valid, it often ignores the practical pressures and responsibilities faced by school managements.
Schools—especially private primary and secondary schools—are not charities. They are institutions that depend almost entirely on tuition fees to function. Teachers’ salaries, utility bills, instructional materials, maintenance, examinations, security, and regulatory obligations are all funded by school fees. When a significant number of parents default, the school’s ability to deliver quality education is threatened.
School administrators frequently explore multiple alternatives before resorting to calling a child out. These include reminders, phone calls, letters, installment plans, grace periods, and personal appeals. Many parents unfortunately respond only when firm action is taken. In such cases, calling a child out becomes not a first response, but a last resort.
It is also important to note that allowing some parents to consistently default without consequence creates injustice within the school system. Parents who make sacrifices to pay on time indirectly subsidize those who refuse or delay payment without valid reasons. Over time, this weakens the institution and lowers standards for all learners.
Furthermore, schools must maintain financial discipline to survive. When teachers are owed salaries, morale drops. When bills go unpaid, learning environments deteriorate. The same parents who oppose fee enforcement are often the first to complain about poor facilities, unmotivated teachers, or declining academic performance.
Calling a child out is not an act of wickedness; it is an administrative decision rooted in survival, fairness, and accountability. The real issue, therefore, is not whether the method is uncomfortable—it is whether schools should be forced to collapse under financial strain while pretending everything is fine.
Share your opinion in the comments section.