Are Money Collections in Schools Legal? We Asked a Director from Arkhangelsk
Many parents have encountered requests for contributions towards classroom repairs, new curtains, or gifts for teachers. Ilya Ivankin, director of the largest school in Arkhangelsk Oblast, reminded that such demands are often illegal. He explained how such situations are resolved.
Ilya Ivankin comes from a family of teachers. He progressed from a young educator to the Minister of Education, Science, and Culture of Arkhangelsk Oblast. Currently, he heads the largest school in Arkhangelsk Oblast — School No. 7. In December 2023, Ivankin showed the new school to Vladimir Putin.
«Everything in school should be free, except for meals and additional education. Textbooks, skis for physical education (if a student doesn’t have them) — all free. There are no collections for repairs, toilet paper, or curtains. The first thing I tell teachers is that if I catch anyone doing this, they won’t be working at the school.»
If they wish, the director says, parents can agree to purchase certain items. But if even one parent refuses, they cannot be forced under any circumstances.
«If a class wants to use a specific workbook, then please, buy it. The school has the right to solicit funds, but it must be exclusively on a voluntary basis. If you don’t want to, you don’t give. But, as a rule, it’s not possible to get everyone to agree voluntarily, so I prefer not to practice collecting money.»
However, according to Ilya, such situations and collections are becoming less common across the country.
«Now parents know their rights. They go to complain, and everything is resolved immediately. Any principal will be reprimanded after such a complaint.»
Read also the full interview with the school director. In it, Ilya Ivankin discussed why there is a shortage of teachers in schools, whether a child should go to 10th grade, and whether to fear the Unified State Exam.
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