EASTERN Cape parents may have to dig a little deeper to ensure their kids receive a good education next year.
Schools recently revealed their fee structures for next year to prospective and current pupils’ parents.
Some have increased fees by up to 9%, citing mounting debts and increasing teacher salaries as a reason.
In most schools, fees exclude extramural activities, sport kits, textbooks and stationary.
Parent Nolonwabo Tetani said, thanks to a bursary, she only has to pay a third of her daughter’s Grade 8 fees next year.
Tetani said she paid R700 a month for Grade 7 this year, but will have to fork out R2800 a month when her daughter starts high school next year.
“Even with the bursary it’s difficult. With a new school there are school uniforms which have to be bought, not to mention the sports,” Tetani said.
“We as parents make huge sacrifices to our kids the best education. Unfortunately, no-fee schools don’t offer the same educational value.”
The Saturday Dispatch spoke to a number of schools about their fee structures for next year.
Gonubie Primary School parents will pay R1335 per month for 11 months, R4005 per term for three terms, R2670 in the fourth term, and an annual R14685. This is an increase of R1265 from last year.
Voorpos Primary School charges R8100 per year for Grade R, R7750 for Grade 1, R7600 for grades 2-6, with R7800 payable for Grade 7.
John Bisseker Senior Secondary School offers parents a fee structure of R1200 per year, which has not increased in five years.
School principal Aubrey Lackay said most of the fees went towards paying salaries for five teachers.
“We are struggling to get the fees. If we get 30% of the fees, then we are lucky.
“Most of our parents are on social welfare, so we understand that they really can’t afford it.
“Some can afford it but they just don’t want to pay,” he said.
Cambridge Primary School, with an increase of 9.3%, charges R1080 monthly for 12 months, or R3142.80 per term.
Independent school King’s College charges R920 a month for grades 0-6 (January to October), which adds up to R2300 per term and R9200 annually. Grades 8-2 pay R1080 per month for 10 months, R2700 per term and R10800 per year.
Provincial education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said fees are determined by parents and school governing bodies, in line with Chapter 4 of the South African Schools Act.
“All parents must be the financial meeting and they must be in agreement the proposed school fee hike,” Mtima said.
“SGBs usually give the proposed fees and they must give the reason why they want the increase.”
Education expert Graeme Bloch said although fees were becoming high, ordinary public schools were getting better.
“If we act now we can make them equivalent to suburban schools,” he said.
Parents who commented on the Dispatch Facebook page said enrolling children in school was becoming increasingly difficult.
Zanoxolo Mbekela suggested parents make use of no-fee schools, while Lekholela Makhetha said: “We pay as if we are paying for a university student.” — zisandan@disaptch.co.za
Parents set to feel fees pinch
Schools recently revealed their fee structures for next year to prospective and current pupils’ parents.
Some have increased fees by up to 9%, citing mounting debts and increasing teacher salaries as a reason.
In most schools, fees exclude extramural activities, sport kits, textbooks and stationary.
Parent Nolonwabo Tetani said, thanks to a bursary, she only has to pay a third of her daughter’s Grade 8 fees next year.
Tetani said she paid R700 a month for Grade 7 this year, but will have to fork out R2800 a month when her daughter starts high school next year.
“Even with the bursary it’s difficult. With a new school there are school uniforms which have to be bought, not to mention the sports,” Tetani said.
“We as parents make huge sacrifices to our kids the best education. Unfortunately, no-fee schools don’t offer the same educational value.”
The Saturday Dispatch spoke to a number of schools about their fee structures for next year.
Gonubie Primary School parents will pay R1335 per month for 11 months, R4005 per term for three terms, R2670 in the fourth term, and an annual R14685. This is an increase of R1265 from last year.
Voorpos Primary School charges R8100 per year for Grade R, R7750 for Grade 1, R7600 for grades 2-6, with R7800 payable for Grade 7.
John Bisseker Senior Secondary School offers parents a fee structure of R1200 per year, which has not increased in five years.
School principal Aubrey Lackay said most of the fees went towards paying salaries for five teachers.
“We are struggling to get the fees. If we get 30% of the fees, then we are lucky.
“Most of our parents are on social welfare, so we understand that they really can’t afford it.
“Some can afford it but they just don’t want to pay,” he said.
Cambridge Primary School, with an increase of 9.3%, charges R1080 monthly for 12 months, or R3142.80 per term.
Independent school King’s College charges R920 a month for grades 0-6 (January to October), which adds up to R2300 per term and R9200 annually. Grades 8-2 pay R1080 per month for 10 months, R2700 per term and R10800 per year.
Provincial education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said fees are determined by parents and school governing bodies, in line with Chapter 4 of the South African Schools Act.
“All parents must be the financial meeting and they must be in agreement the proposed school fee hike,” Mtima said.
“SGBs usually give the proposed fees and they must give the reason why they want the increase.”
Education expert Graeme Bloch said although fees were becoming high, ordinary public schools were getting better.
“If we act now we can make them equivalent to suburban schools,” he said.
Parents who commented on the Dispatch Facebook page said enrolling children in school was becoming increasingly difficult.
Zanoxolo Mbekela suggested parents make use of no-fee schools, while Lekholela Makhetha said: “We pay as if we are paying for a university student.” — zisandan@disaptch.co.za
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