23 October 2006
The Minister of Education recognises that the number of fee exemptions
granted at certain schools is becoming a burden on the schools' finances.
"I have requested the department to develop a framework according to which
advantaged schools are subsidised for enrolling non-fee paying learners," she
said today.
Most parents send their children to public schools and many parents continue
to invest substantially in the education of their children. They can afford to
supplement the resources of the school by making voluntary contributions, and
the South African Schools Act allows for this.
However, most parents contribute by paying the compulsory school fees set by
a general meeting of parents in terms of the Schools Act. The right to charge
school fees is matched by an obligation to exempt parents who cannot afford to
pay school fees. A number of recent reports suggest that the cost of textbooks
and educational tours and other excursions will inflate school fees in the New
Year.
"I am aware that the new exemption regulations may reduce the income that
schools receive from school fees," she said. "I urge parents and school
governing bodies to raise funds by means of voluntary contributions to make up
for any deficit."
Neither the amended Schools Act nor the new Exemption Regulations should
lead to an increase in school fees. The new regulations merely clarify an
already existing provision in regard to the levying of school fees.
"I would like to caution parents," she said, "that any increase in school
fees might make it necessary for a school to grant fee exemptions to more
parents."
The 2003 Review on the Resourcing, Financing and Costs of Education in
Public Schools was very widely consulted and resulted in an "Action Plan" for
improving access to free basic education for all. The Review found the
following:
* parents who were unable to pay school fees were treated unfairly
* schools came up with all kinds of "hidden" expenses
* persons receiving grants on behalf of learners were not exempted
* schools did not inform parents of their right to apply for exemption
* schools discriminated against learners whose parents had not paid, or were
unable to pay, school fees
* in some cases, parents were taken to court unnecessarily and their property
was attached because of non-payment of school fees.
The review process and further consultation with various stakeholders
culminated in the amendment of the South African Schools Act, No 84 of 1996, by
the Education Laws Amendment Act, No 24 of 2005, the new Norms and Standards
for School Funding and, finally, the new Regulations Relating to the Exemption
of Parents from Payment of School Fees, published under General Notice No 1052
(Government Gazette No 29311 of 18 October 2006).
The Review was conducted because members of the public had expressed concern
about the situation and because practices that were current in the education
establishment at the time did little to help parents or the school
community.
"I hope that the new regulations will make schooling more accessible to
all," the minister said.
These new regulations are an improvement on what was previously available.
They contain a formula that can be used to determine the extent of exemption
that can be granted to a parent, taking into account two parents' joint income,
the number of children that a parent has at public schools and any additional
monetary amounts that a parent contributes to the school.
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Tel: (012) 312 5538
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mail: ngqengelele.l@doe.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education
23 October 2006
