The non-payment of school fees in general since the beginning of the national lockdown is a growing issue at schools.
On the surface it seems like a perfect equation particularly for parents: if children are not schooling, then there is no purpose to pay school fees.
The Advertiser questioned headmasters from private and public schools in Boksburg about school fees not being paid.
St Dominic’s, Boksburg High, Sunward Park High, Oosrand Secondary, Martin Primary and Woodlands International College were asked to answer questions about schools fees. Only two educators were forthcoming with responses.
The questions posed were:
• Has the school struggled with fees from parents under the extended lockdown? If so, how is the school coping/ dealing with parents refusing to pay fees for their children?
• What impact has this had on the school?
• Why should parents pay school fees despite children not going to school?
• Are teachers who are not paid by the government at the school under threat to lose their jobs because of this issue?
• For the parents who struggle with paying their bills, are there exceptions in place to make payments easier?
• Online learning is a big part of life today. How is a school being of assistance to students who are underprivileged and cannot afford the costs that come with online studying (data)?
• Please provide percentage figures (not exact details) of school fee payments now compared to before lockdown. Have they increased, stayed the same or decreased?
St Dominic’s headmaster Roger Loring responded: “We are an independent school, which means we operate as an NPO, separate from the public school system.
“As such, the school receives no funding from the government.
“The payment of school fees is necessary for the payment of salaries and all expenses. We are very grateful and thank our parents who have continued to pay school fees during a challenging time where their income has been affected through the different levels of lockdown.
“We are very fortunate to have the resources and skilled teaching staff which enabled us to implement a hybrid learning system.
“In this system, where learners may receive their lessons in class or at home, we continue to provide uninterrupted education.
“It is important to realise that the preparation and commitment from teachers are significant.
“Preparing lessons for both classroom and online teaching requires double the amount of work from the teachers.
“Online learning comes with many challenges. In level three lockdown many parents returned to work. This leaves parents with the challenge of either leaving their children at home unattended or having to find supervision for them.
“Sometimes groups of children are forced to be together at one person’s home, which defeats the purpose of schools being closed. Other challenges parents have had to face include load shedding, data issues and a shortage of devices in the home.
“These all create added costs that need to be incurred by the parents.
“Our board of governors, chaired by Clement Chamboko, considered the many challenges that face our school and our community. Various strategies were implemented to help our families through times of trauma as we have and continue to live through the Covid pandemic.
“One such strategy adopted was the focus on essential expenditure only, without impairing the quality of education and functionality of our school.
“Another cost-saving strategy implemented was the suspension of all planned new capital expenditure projects. These cost savings were passed on to our parents.”
The headmaster of a local primary school (who chose to remain anonymous) said: “We appeal to parents to pay their fees. Parents who don’t pay fees are reminded that they are in arrears and encouraged to make arrangements with the school should they experience difficulties in this regard.
Statements are sent indicating arrears.
“Final demands are sent in cases where parents simply refuse to pay or contact the school and apply for subsidies.
“As a very last resort once final demands have been sent without any subsidy application received or valid reason provided why payments aren’t made the account will be handed over to a collection agency.
“In all the above we are guided by legislation in this regard namely SASA and Norms and Standards for School Funding.
“It has impacted the school and we have had to revise our budgets to focus on absolute essentials.
“Our fee collections have dropped, but we are fortunate that the majority of parents are still paying fees as they understand that schools cannot continue to deliver an education of the highest standards without their fees. Fee-paying schools cannot survive on the small amount received from the government.
“Parents must still pay fees as school fees is an annual amount determined by parents at an AGM required per learner to fulfil the budget and expenses of a school year. This is an annual amount for the year and not a monthly fee.
“Schools merely assist parents to pay the annual fee by allowing them to make 11 or 12 equal payments. It is therefore not a fee for January or February but the first instalment of a down payment on the total fee for the year.
“The school still has to pay all its required bills like electricity, internet, insurance, security, and salaries even though learners have not started.
“Yes, governing body staff is in danger of losing their jobs if fees aren’t paid. This would not only mean the loss of some excellent staff but also increase the number of learners per class drastically which will affect the quality of education.
“Schools also employ additional staff to assist with aftercare, sport, music, cleaning and upkeep of facilities for example. Extra staff is currently employed to ensure the health and safety of learners. All these salaries will be in danger if the fees aren’t paid.
“Parents who can’t afford to pay fees are assisted in the form of subsidies that can be applied for.
“We have even implemented special Covid-19 subsidies last year. Many of our parents have been helped in this regard. Subsidies are granted according to government legislation in this regard.
“It is, however, the parents’ responsibility to apply for a subsidy and complete all required documentation and supply the required proof before a subsidy can be granted instead of just refusing to pay an account.
“Although we make use of Google Class we also provide hard copies of all required work.
“Parents who cannot afford data can make arrangements with the school to collect work and drop off again once completed.”
The Advertiser contacted the Department of Education and the National Alliance of Independent School Associations for comment. None has been received.
What others had to say on Facebook:
Debbie Stander
The school still has expenses every month, if you do get a full salary then please pay school fees so that the school can open again. Imagine if a few schools have to close completely.
Ingrid Hawkins
Some parents are doing the schooling at home, I know my daughter is as she’s working from home too. There is no online teaching, just worksheets. Do the parents get paid for doing this? No. It’s unfair that the parents now become teachers and their work has to be put on hold if the child needs help.
Nonhlanhla Ntshangase Nkosi
As for me, I run a bakery. The lockdown hit me so bad I wish to pay but I can’t afford to pay. It’s a hectic life, the pandemic killed me.
Venessa Ede
If you can pay, then pay. If you have lost your job and money is tight, it’s not hard to choose between paying for a service you are not currently receiving and putting food on the table.
And before all the teachers come for me, I am a teacher.
Tian Lotter
Why should we pay for services that are not getting rendered? That’s like paying a bond on a house and still having to pay rent to stay somewhere else or paying a car instalment, but the car is locked away or used by someone else. The government makes these stupid rules. Make them rather pay the teachers’ salaries instead of pocketing the money themselves.
Penny Rall
Schools normally ask for fees from January to October – 10 months. Your children are still at school November and half of December where your children are attending and no fee is expected so by saying no payment in January because no service was rendered, do you think the teachers should not teach your children in November and December because you are not paying.? It works both ways.
Joanne Walker
I don’t think it’s fair that we must pay the full amount and still have to teach our kids. School says to contact teachers if kids don’t understand work, but then not provide correct contact info to parents so we end up teaching our kids as best we can or having to pay another person to come to teach our kids. They expect you to honour your agreement with them and pay your fees in full. Just not fair.
Tessie Senekal
If you cannot afford school fees, put your children in a school that costs less or free schooling school. It’s not a school or teachers’ fault if you lose your job. There are options.
Also Read: Top schools in SA and what they charge
