Rate hikes may see schools raise fees

With the massive rate increases in the City of Joburg, schools could face closures or increase fees.

This week, schools in Johannesburg heard they would be charged between 1.5 and 2.5 times more for residential rates.

Solidarity’s Melanie Buys said the increase would have a severe impact on schools and parents.

“Fee-paying public schools’ budgets are already under severe pressure with unreasonably high municipal rates and forced exemptions from school fees, which was not reimbursed by the government,” she said.

Solidarity and AfriForum have indicated their intention to challenge rate hikes at schools and universities.

Democratic Alliance shadow MEC of education Khume Ramulifho said schools faced serious challenges in sustaining their operations.

“The cost of living has drastically increased while income has remained static for many people.

“Petrol prices, fuel prices and food prices hikes are putting pressure on parents and schools,” he said.

Ramulifho said the economy was stagnant.

“Many people lost jobs due to Covid and the few parents who still have jobs have to carry the burden in certain instances, as some parents are applying for exemption which is less than annual school fees,” he added.

Ramulifho encouraged schools that believe they were incorrectly classified as quintile four or five and battling to cope with school fees to apply to be no-fee schools.

South African Teachers’ Union spokesperson Stephan van der Berg said it was the state’s responsibility to provide quality education for all.

“Though the union does not necessarily agree with exorbitant school fees, we cannot fault communities [that have the means] for investing in the education of their children,” he said.

Van der Berg said a well-resourced school was more often than not a well-performing school.

“School fees are set by the duly elected governing bodies of schools and as such, it remains the prerogative of a particular schooling community to raise or lower their fees,” he said.

Suzi Pestana said it was already difficult to make ends meet as a mother of two children.

“Petrol is going up at every corner that you turn into.

“Juggling fuel, food and transport is already hard to cope with.

“It’s a nightmare with the fees increasing,” she said.

“I know I am not the only parent out there struggling, but an additional school fee increase will make it harder to cope.”