19 June 2006
Parents of almost 150 000 learners attending 419 primary schools in the
Western Cape will no longer have to worry about monies for school fees. This
after the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has allocated R29-million to
fund the introduction of no fee schools during the 2006/07 financial year,
focusing on the poorest schools.
The department plans to allocate R139-million in 2007/08 and R237-million in
2008/09 to expand the no fee initiative to cover more schools over the next
three years.
Schools are ranked for funding purposes in five quintiles, based on the
relative poverty of the communities surrounding the schools. Schools in
quintile one are situated in the poorest communities, while those in quintile
five are situated in the least poor communities. The 419 schools that have
opted for no fee status so far are in quintile one.
The WCED is allocating R527 per learner to cover the first phase of the
initiative in 2006. The department plans to expand the programme to cover 37.6%
of learners in 2007, while increasing the allocation to at least R554 per
learner.
The WCED plans to increase allocations per learner in 2008, based on the
poverty rankings of the schools they are attending. The department plans to
allocate R772 per learner at schools on quintile one, R711 in quintile two and
R581 in quintile three.
This morning at a special function, Premier Ebrahim Rasool and Education MEC
Cameron Dugmore handed over a cheque of R328 350 to the Paulus Joubert Primary
School in Paarl, which is one of the schools that have opted for "no fee
status".
Said MEC Dugmore "The Provincial Government of the Western Cape has decided
to introduce the policy early in 2006 as part of the Premier's Siyabulela
service delivery campaign.
"The WCED invited more 424 schools to opt for no fee status earlier this
year. In the end, 419 schools applied to become no fee schools. About 146 000
learners attend these schools, representing about 15.9% of the total number of
learners in the Western Cape. No fee status took effect at these schools from 1
May 2006.
"The allocation to Paulus Joubert Primary School will increase from R243 775
in September 2005 to R524 365 in 2006/07, thanks to the schools new "no-fee"
status. In effect, the allocation per learner at the school has increased from
R282 per learner to R527.
"The Education Laws Amendment Bill is an important provision in realising
both the vision of the Freedom Charter that the doors of learning and culture
be opened and the Constitution, to expand access to basic education.
"The introduction of no fee schools now means that parents no longer have to
apply for exemption from paying school fees at no fee schools if they cannot
afford them. A roll out "no fee" schools, it remains the duty of principals at
schools where fees apply to continue informing parents of their right to apply
for full or partial exemption.
"No school may refuse entry to a learner because their parents cannot afford
the fees. Where fees are charged, parents must continue paying these fees, and
should attend annual budget meetings and contribute to determining fees. They
have a right to full information on how the school budget is being used."
Enquiries
Gert Witbooi
Cell: 082 550 3938
Paddy Attwell
Cell: 083 261 7699
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
19 June 2006
