Crystal Harrison, STAR Writer

A student who has big plans to pursue tertiary level education is claiming that his grades are being withheld by his former high school because of outstanding monies owed to the school.

the 18-year-old youngster of a Tivoli gardens address who wants to pursue a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in communication arts and technology, said "the school said that I owe $9,000 for extra lessons taken between 2009 and 2010 and recently I paid $2,500, my father had given me some money which I paid down and I don't have anymore money."

He added yesterday that, "I was given until the end of November by the University of Technology to come in with the outstanding grades to complete my application and at this point things seem dull."

According to the youngster, his mother is going back to school and his father is unable to pay anymore money.

When THE STAR made contact with the school we were informed that the principal was out of office, however, we spoke to the school's bursar who said she couldn't comment on the matter but she did confirm that the youngster has an outstanding balance for private lessons that were taken at the school.

In the meantime, when THE STAR contacted the Ministry of Education's Public Relations Officer, Colin Blair, he told us that the school has the right to collect their money but a student's result should not be withheld.

"The policy is that schools are not to withhold students results, but they should find ways to negotiate with the student and their parents to collect outstanding monies. The school is acting as an agent and they are not to interfere with results. However, they have the right to collect payment therefore they should negotiate with the students and their parents," Blair said.