Unpaid school fees for Creative Sector households
As a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic (and aside of all the other side-effects), we in the Creative Sector find ourselves in the grip of one of the most Financially disruptive and unsettling periods of the past century, due to the virtual shut-down of all- or most of our usual revenue-generating activities.
As one of the interventions to contain the effects of the above, the Minister of Sports, Arts & Culture assembled an advisory team consisting of experienced cross-sector practitioners to focus on specific Work Streams relevant to bringing Relief to our stricken sector. One of these work streams is to find a solution to the issue of UNPAID SCHOOL FEES for households where children attend Public-School Fee paying Schools. In co-operation with the Minister for Basic Education and officials of both DSAC and DBE, we were able to develop a remedy for parents who find themselves in this situation.
These schools receive a significant state subsidy including some staff salaries paid on the State Scales, but they still charge the parents some school fees in addition to the amount received by the State. They are said to be multicultural and highly diverse, they pay their top teachers in scarce subjects really well and many offer high quality education at very reasonable fees.
All have relatively large classes, the higher the fees paid by parents the lower the subsidy received from the State. It is important to note however, these schools are ALL governed by the prevailing legislation on Public Schools and School Governing Bodies (SGB's) should be reminded of this when they try and levy Debt on parents who are unable to pay their School fees during periods of involuntary unemployment, such as during this Pandemic!
Attached are instructions for parents as to how to go about dealing with this uncomfortable matter. Parents are asked to kindly read carefully through this and follow the guidelines. (https://www.srsa.gov.za/sites/default/files/MAT%20-%20School%20Fees%20Instructions%20%281%29.pdf)
For those who require this information in their Official Language of choice, or for any other relevant information (not included in this email message or attached document), Kindly contact:
Mr Dunisani Chabalala
E-mail: dunisanic@Dsac.gov.za
Mr Gabi Le Roux
E-mail: gabilr@tumsa.org
