January 1, 1991
25.4.81
The grievor sought to be reimbursed the school fees for the year 1988-89.
The grievor was assigned abroad in August 1986. In September of 1987 the grievor decided that her two children should return to Canada because of the socio—political situation at the post and the risk that their education would be disrupted. The children were enrolled in an Ontario school for the 1987-88 school year. The grievor returned to Canada in June 1988 and attempted to enroll the children in the Quebec school system. The CEGEF involved would not recognize the older child's studies from the Ontario school and required that the year would have to be repeated. The grievor then enrolled the child in the Ontario system for the 1988-89 school year.
The Administrative Committee considered the report of the Foreign Service Directives Committee and noted that the Committee reported that as far as could be determined, the child's situation was the result of a parental decision to:
(1) register the child in the school abroad without fully determining the implications for re-entry in the Quebec school system;
(2) to register the child in a private school in Ontario upon return.
It was further noted that the Foreign Service Committee agreed that had the child continued in the Quebec school system, following the employee's return to Canada the total number of years required to complete secondary school would have been the same as for education in Ontario.
The Administrative Committee agreed with the report of the Foreign Service Directives Committee in that the child's situation was beyond the purview of the Foreign Service
Directives as it involves a claim for reimbursement of tuition costs incurred after the employee's return from posting.
The grievance was denied.