The reasons for two no-fee schools to withhold pupils’ reports is being probed by the education department.
This comes after East London parents reported Lumko High School in Amalinda and Chumani Primary school in Reeston to the department for withholding pupils’ results because of what they said were outstanding school fees.
Both schools fall in the no-fee category, provincial education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima confirmed.
“Immediately after receiving these complaints we intervened. The SA Schools Act of 1996 prevents any educator from doing this. We instructed the district manager to investigate and ensure those learners get their reports.”
Mtima said the issue of the reports had since been resolved.
The department was now investigating why the no-fee schools were allegedly charging parents money in the first place.
“When we discover that there are fees at these schools, we investigate and intervene because no one is supposed to be paying fees where the government has subsidies,” Mtima said.
Nosiphiwo Mbelekana, 20, completed her matric last year while allegedly owing Lumko High R500.
Mbelekana said the principal refused to release her results.
On Monday, angry ward 1 residents and parents marched to the school and demanded her results. “The principal was shocked when the student came with the community to the school, but everything is resolved,” Mtima said.
The first to pass matric in her family, Mbelekana is due to attend Buffalo City College to study towards a public management diploma.
“When I saw my name [in the Daily Dispatch] I was so happy I had passed. I wanted to be more and do more for my family. I didn’t think receiving my actual results would be a problem,” she said...