Durban - Parents with children at fee-paying schools must brace for an increase in school fees of up to 10 percent.
The Federation of Governing Bodies of SA Schools chief executive, Paul Colditz, said that even public schools needed to increase fees because the rates on their amenities were rising.
“On average, the state subsidy (for public schools) only contributes about three to seven percent to the schools’ annual budget. They need to find other ways to raise the balance to keep the school running,” he said.
Matakanya Matakanya, of the National Association of School Governing Bodies, said that most state funding went to the more than 21 000 no-fee schools, leaving the other 3 000 to find ways to make do through school fees and donations. “I don’t think a paying public school can function without donations unless they milk the parents for every last cent,” he said.
While some charge about R1 500 a year, like Durban’s Greyville Primary, the majority of public schools charge R6 000-R8 000 for primary schools and about R10 000 for high school.
“From what I’ve heard, the most expensive public school costs more than R30 000, but that is still much cheaper than private schools, which can cost up to R200 000 a year, if not more,” said Colditz.
Boarding expenses push up the costs at some private schools. These include Pietermaritzburg’s Wykeham Collegiate, which offers boarding from Grade 3 to matric. Its fees increased by 9.5 percent from 2014 to 2015, with boarding matriculants having to pay up to R154 820 next year.
Semi-private public schools try to strike a balance between the two sectors. Parents had to pay R12 500 for tuition and R22 800 in boarding fees per pupil at Alexandra High in Pietermaritzburg this year.
The school is due to have a parents’ meeting to discuss next year’s fees.
Matakanya said that parents sent their children to private schools knowing they were more expensive than public and semi-private schools.
“Some of the activities offered, like sitting for the Independent Examinations Board exams and a wide range of extra-curricular activities, are not available in public schools. These cost additional fees that are often included in school fees,” he said.
At Stanger’s Trinityhouse Palm Lakes, fees for pre-primary pupils will be between R29 800 and R35 955 next year. The high school will cost up to R64 200 per pupil. Parents will pay no less than R102 900 for a matric pupil at Crawford College La Lucia next year, unless they have a sibling at the school, which entitles them to a R4 440 discount.
Tuition and full boarding at Crawford North Coast campus will cost R90 870 next year for Grade 11 and 12 pupils.
Parents could pay more if they pay in instalments instead of settling the account up front or on registration.
The Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa’s Lebogang Montjane said while some of the independent schools did not take fees (some are no-fee schools) others charged up to R209 000, inclusive of boarding.
“They have independent boards which determine the appropriate fees for their respective schools. The primary consideration for school fees is that schools must meet their operational costs as well as ensure institutional sustainability,” he said.
KwaZulu-Natal education spokesman Muzi Mahlambi said the fees were agreed on by the parents and the school before implementation. “We urge parents to attend meetings because no school will implement a fee increase without their approval,” he said.
Mahlambi said the national Department of Basic Education was looking into amending the Schools Act to exert some control on the fees charged by affluent schools.
The Mercury