Call for no school fees as pupils penalised

Majola said a number of pupils from poor backgrounds were being sent home by teachers as their parents could not afford to pay their school fees.

“I have made my own investigation about this and we discovered that, while these schools have been declared no-fee schools, some kids were still forced to pay the fees,” he said.

Majola said parents were also often asked to contribute towards “special projects” at the schools.

Education spokesman Mali Mtima said pupils may not be deprived of their right to participate in all aspects of the programmes of a public school due to non-payment of school fees.

He said they may not be victimised in any manner.

“A public school may by process of law enforce the payment of school fees by parents who are liable to pay but a public school may not attach the dwelling in which a parent resides.

“There have been cases and we have attended to them immediately, as they are reported,” said Mtima.

Majola said: “We cannot allow schools to turn away children.

“We’ve also learnt that many children did not get their progress reports and statement of results because their parents did not pay the money,” he said.

Last week, the Daily Dispatch reported on Nomakorinte Mgweba, a parent from Mthatha, whose son’s school had refused to release his results, claiming she owed R4800 in fees.

Majola said he was attending to similar complaints in Mount Frere, Peddie and Port Elizabeth.

“In Peddie, a child was denied her school report and transfer letter because she failed to pay a R50 monthly collection fee to pay an SGB-employed teacher.

“In Mount Frere, two siblings had to leave school last year after they failed to pay fees.

“These are just are some of the cases. This is also happening in Port Elizabeth,” said Majola.

“We are all working towards improving the pass rate for the Eastern Cape but the department is not assisting when we are trying to ensure children are in class.” — bonganif@dispatch. co.za