By Nadine Wilson— Graphic: Rorie Atkinson—- THE National Parent-Teachers’ Association (NPTA) has charged that schools are using graduation ceremonies to raise money, and is urging parents to boycott the school-leaving event. Everton Hannam, the NPTA president, made the call last week amidst growing complaints from parents about the high costs associated with the events. “A graduation exercise has, in many cases, become a fund-raising exercise for most of the schools. When I look at what the students get, based on the money they pay, I am inclined to believe that some of them have become fund-raising exercises for those who organise them,” Hannam told the Jamaica Observer. “We have received complaints starting at the primary school and even at the basic school [level] and it’s like $6,000 or $7,000 for graduation, and they are getting … Read entire article »