LIFESTYLE NEWS - According to the Constitution, every child has the right to schooling.
Due to a weakened economy, rising unemployment and various other factors, some people are exempt from paying school fees.
It is illegal to request school fees from the following learners:
• An orphan or child living in an orphanage
• An orphaned child living in a house of which another child is the carer
• A child being raised by a foster parent/guardian
• A child placed in a youth care centre or a place of safety
• A child placed in the care of a family member
• A child whose parent receives a social grant on behalf of that child
A parent who receives a social grant on behalf of a child must have the necessary permission or approval to do so.
Parents or guardians are legally exempt from paying school fees if they do not earn enough to do so. Those parents do, however, have to seek approval first.
Parents/guardians who cannot afford to pay school fees must have written consent from the school’s governing body to be exempted.
Here are some examples:
• If the school fees are 10% of your annual income, you do not have to pay school fees.
• If the school fees are 8% of your annual income, each learner’s fees must be reduced by at least 88%.
• If the school fees amount to 6% of your annual income, each learner’s fees must be reduced by 67%.
• If the school fees amount to 4% of your annual income, the first learner’s fees will be reduced by 25%, and with 40% for each learner thereafter (with a maximum of four learners).
• If the school fees are 3.5% of your annual income, each learner’s fees have to be reduced by 7%.
Parents/guardians can request application forms and policy documents from the school’s reception.
