Mandatory donations in Minsk school: Parents pay $65 for windows

Parents of fifth-graders have to pay money to install new windows.

Charter97.org learnt it from reader Tatsyana Mayeuskaya, whose child studies in the fifth grade of school No. 201 in Minsk.

“The homeroom teacher gathered all parents and said that the classroom needed to be repaired. The school will replace the wiring, desks and other things, but parents have to replace old windows with new insulated glazing windows. Parents are expected to donate $65 per family. The total sum per class is $1690, not bad. It is rather expensive for my family. What should I do? If I don't pay the money, teacher may take revenge on my kid. It is only the fifth grade. What should I expect later?” she writes.

Mandatory “donations” are a common thing in Belarusian schools, but sometimes flagrant cases happen.