School fee exemptions can offer relief to families under financial pressure. Picture: iStock With schools reopening this Wednesday, many South African families are feeling the pressure that comes with a new academic year. While education opens doors, school fees remain a major financial hurdle for thousands of parents struggling to make ends meet.
According to statistics, more than 46 000 children, especially in early childhood development, did not attend school in 2024 because of the cost. It is important to note, however, that parents with children at government schools are protected by law if they are unable to pay school fees, provided they follow the correct exemption process. “Government schools can only take action against non-paying parents once they have determined if the parents qualify for an exemption and are required to notify parents in writing if they have not applied,” TPN Credit Bureau legal counsel Ashleigh Laurent explained.
While schools are legally required to inform parents of their right to apply for fees exemptions, this does not always happen in practice. However, regulations under theSouth African Schools Actprovide a clear mechanism for parents facing financial hardship to apply for relief. The following learners must be fully exempt from paying school fees: If school fees amount to 2% or less of a parent’s total annual income, the parent does not qualify for an exemption, unless they have five or more children attending fee-charging schools.
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According toLegal Fundi,a formula is used to determine whatportion of a family’s income goes towards school fees. Importantly, schools may not force parents to sign anAcknowledgement of Debtinstead of allowing them to apply for an exemption. If a parent is retrenched and unable to continue paying the compulsory school fees, then the parent can apply to the school governing body (SGB) to ask for the school fees to be waived until they are employed again.
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