Legal expert Olga Oshkina provides crucial advice for parents facing unwarranted financial demands from schools for various “extra” expenses.
If schools pressure parents of students into unnecessary expenditures, such as contributions for classroom maintenance, furniture acquisition, or festive decorations, parents possess the legal right to challenge these demands. Olga Oshkina, a prominent member of the Union of Lawyer-Bloggers, advises lodging complaints with the local education authority, the prosecutor`s office, or the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor).
Understanding Voluntary vs. Mandatory Payments
Oshkina clarifies that whenever a school requests payment, parents should first ascertain if the contribution is strictly voluntary. If confirmed as voluntary, parents are fully entitled to decline. However, if the school asserts that the payment is mandatory, parents should demand a written justification. Should this justification lack legal basis, the lawyer recommends submitting a formal complaint.
Documenting Violations and Taking Action
“Schools are prohibited from demanding any sums of money,” Oshkina stressed. “When faced with schools imposing unnecessary expenses, parents must diligently document the violation. This includes preserving all relevant correspondence, taking photographic or video evidence, making audio recordings of coercive collection attempts, and gathering any other supporting proof.” She added, “Parents have the right to submit a formal written appeal to the school principal, explicitly demanding an immediate halt to all unlawful collections.”
Where to Seek Further Assistance
Should the issue persist, parents can escalate their concerns to higher authorities:
- Department of Education: For issues concerning financial coercion.
- Prosecutor`s Office: In cases where forced financial obligations are imposed.
- Rospotrebnadzor: If the consumer rights of educational service recipients have been violated.
Clarifying Voluntary Contributions and Prohibited Demands
Oshkina emphasized the crucial distinction: voluntary contributions are not mandatory payments. A school may merely request assistance, but it cannot demand money, exert pressure on parents, resort to coercion, or issue threats such as expulsion from class or denial of access to lessons. It is explicitly forbidden for schools to demand payment for items such as classroom repairs, furniture purchases, equipment, or decorations for holidays, the lawyer reiterated.
She further explained, “Donations for specific objectives, like renovating an assembly hall, are permissible, provided there is complete transparency regarding how the funds will be utilized. Crucially, such contributions should only be channeled through the school`s officially recognized charitable foundation, not directly to the school administration, and only when parents offer them with genuine, informed consent.”
All legitimate contributions, she noted, must be documented with official receipts or written acknowledgments, clearly detailing the amount, the intended purpose, and the date of transaction. The word “mandatory” must never be associated with these contributions.
In conclusion, Oshkina stated that all paid educational services, including extended day programs, extracurricular clubs, and preparation courses for state exams (like OGE and ЕГЭ), must be offered and accessed solely on a voluntary basis.
