Cape Town - The number of independent schools is on the rise.
According to the Western Cape Education Department, the number of registered independent schools has increased by 47 since 2009 when the province had 190 registered independent schools accommodating 36 597 pupils.
The province now has 237 independent schools with a pupil enrolment of 51 325.
National figures also show an increase. The Department of Basic Education’s School Realities 2013 document showed that there were 1 584 independent schools last year, with an enrolment of 513 804 pupils, compared to 1 174 schools five years earlier with an enrolment of 386 098 pupils.
Lebogang Montjane, executive director of the Independent Schools Association of SA (Isasa), attributed the growth of independent schools to parental choice.
He said that whereas in the early 90s the sector consisted of predominantly white, traditional high-fee independent schools, official figures showed that today the majority of pupils were black (73 percent) and most schools were either mid-fee or low-fee, serving communities that traditionally did not see independent schools as an alternative for their families.
“Within Isasa, our member schools’ fees range from zero rands to R209 000 (for a full-boarding school). What is often overlooked when comparing educational costs, is the fact that some public schools charge higher fees than some independent schools.
“Just because a school is independent, it does not mean that it is therefore more expensive than its public counterpart.”
Sherlyne Erasmus, regional marketer at Curro Holdings, said Curro opened its first school in Durbanville in 1998 and it initially had 28 pupils.
There were now eight Curro schools in the province with an enrolment of 4 414.
“Private schooling is being chosen for a few reasons: better education in the classroom, better sport facilities, qualified staff who are in the classroom when they should be.”
Erasmus said two more schools, Curro Brackenfell and Castle Durbanville, were under construction and scheduled to open next year.
* In terms of the SA Schools’ Act all independent schools have to register with their relevant provincial education department.
Cape Argus