09/01/2022
It's that time of the year again School fees and applications for exemption please read carefully the underneath and if you need assistance just message us.
The types of exemptions:
Automatic Exemption:
The following children qualify automatically for fee exemption:
Orphans in an orphanage and child-headed households
Pupils with foster parents
Pupils placed in youth care centres or the care of a family member
Pupils whose parents receive a social grant in their name. For example, a Child Support Grant.
2. Full Exemption:
If the school fees (of any one child or several children together) are 10% or more of the total income, you will be entitled to a full exemption and will NOT have to pay school fees. This includes other expenses such as security guard fees, matric dance fees etc.
3. Partial Exemption:
If the school fees are between 3,5% and 10% of total income, you qualify for a partial exemption, whether you have one child or more enrolled in no-fees public schools.
4. Conditional Exemption:
This takes into consideration that some circumstances are beyond a parent’s control, and due to extreme personal issues, they cannot pay fees. It applies to parents who qualify for a partial exemption. However, if a parent is not eligible for an exemption, but presents suffice evidence of circumstances that render them unable to pay fees, a conditional exemption will be considered.
5. No Exemption:
Where the combined annual gross income of both parents is more than 30 times the yearly school fees per learner, the child doesn’t qualify for any exemptions.
What about single parents/legal guardians?
A 2018 ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal provided relief for single parents across South Africa. The SCA has overturned a judgement by the Western Cape High Court that stipulated single parents must obtain the financial details of their former partners/spouses when applying for school fees exemption.
So, whether separated or divorced, single parents’ fee exemption applications will now be processed in relation to their individual circumstances.
What happens if parents default on school fees payments?
If a parent falls into arrears for 1 or 2 months, the School Governing Body must investigate the case and determine whether or not he or she qualifies for some form of exemption.
If the governing body can prove that the parents are not entitled to exemption in any form, then they can take legal action. However, legal action is not an option for the school if the parent is working with any institutions that are set up under the National Credit Act
After 3 months of arrears, the governing body must first issue a Letter of Demand, which warns the parents and indicates a date by which they must respond. Only then can a court order be obtained.
If the parent does not respond, a summons will be served to call them to the Magistrate’s Court. The parent will then have the opportunity to put his/her side of the story before the Magistrates Court. In the event that the summons is ignored and the parent is a no-show in court, the Magistrate can give a default judgement in the parent’s absence. If the parent does not comply with the Magistrates orders, the Sheriff of the Court can attach possessions and sell them to pay off the debt.
Important: A pupil may not be excluded from any school or extramural activities due to non-payment of school fees by the parents. What’s more, the school also cannot withhold a School Report or Transfer Certificate.
Education is key and is particularly empowering in South Africa- a country in desperate need of economic transformation, so be sure to exhaust all options when it comes to sending your children to school
