NRS sounds the alarm after half its parents fail to pay up

Parents of learners at New Republic School recently received a newsletter which made for some grim reading, especially for those in arrears on their school fees.

The letter, dated September 20, began ominously with the opening statement:

“Due to the school fees that are so far behind we are forced to ask the SGB [school governing body] paid teachers to leave…”

It goes on to elaborate on the consequences of these drastic measures, pointing out that the decision will lead to there being ’25 members of staff instead of 50, two secretaries instead of five and four cleaners instead of seven’.
“The consequences of the above will lead to no secretaries at the window or to answer phone calls, no cleaners to clean the toilets and some of the classrooms. The shortage of teachers will lead to an increase of numbers in classes.”

As is the case with many Government schools across the country, the number of learners in classrooms is already high and to implement these measures would place even more pressure on the remaining teachers at NRS as well as the learners.

The newsletter has gained attention on social media as well, with opinion on the controversial matter split.

Some parents have expressed outrage, while others simply feel those who did not pay their school fees should have very little to complain about.

As outlined in the newsletter, the options suggested by the school will see some drastic changes in the Foundation Phase as well as the Intermediate and Senior Phases of NRS.

The first option for parents of Foundation Phase pupils (Grade 1 to Grade 3) will see one of the Grade 1 classes being incorporated into the other Grade 1 classes, two of the existing Grade 2 classes merged with the remaining Grade 2 classes and three Grade 3 classes unified into a single Grade 3 class.
The Intermediate and Senior Phases will have the first option of all learners – who take Afrikaans as first additional language – placed in the ‘N classes’ and all taking isiZulu as as an additional language choice placed in the R classes, with two English classes per grade.

In both phases, Afrikaans classes will be combined.

“Learners with school fees paid up to date will be placed in a class with a state paid teacher,” read the second option for all phases. “Learners with outstanding school fees will be placed in a class without a teacher or with a parent who wants to help.”

NRS Principal, Jasper Jonker stated social media was not the way to go about dealing with this highly controversial matter.

“I feel the best way to handle it is with the parents from our school, which we will do at a parents’ meeting. Social media, where it appears that anyone can just say whatever they want, is certainly not the way to do it.”

Following the social media uproar on the matter, another letter was dispatched to parents notifying them of an urgent meeting, which will be called to discuss the school’s financial state and the predicament it finds itself in due to non-payment of ‘more than half of the school fees’.

The previous letter outlined above, has since been withdrawn by the school.

In the latest correspondence, the school states it ‘looks forward to working together with parents to find a way out of the current crisis’.

“If your child’s education is important to you, you will be at this meeting,” it concludes.

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