What happens if you can't pay school fees in South Africa?

A public school has the right to take legal action against a parent who does not pay school fees, but only after the exemption criteria have been applied and the parent is still liable to pay such fees. The learner must remain in school while the case is on.

Can you be blacklisted for school fees in South Africa?

The school can blacklist you with a credit bureau if you have not applied for fee exemption and have not paid outstanding fees. The school may not withhold reports or awards because of non-payment of fees. Answered on Jan.

What is the law on school fees in South Africa?

The South African Schools Act of 1996 allows for learners from poor families to be exempted from paying school fees. The School Fee Exemption policy says that each school, through its school governing body (SGB), must determine fees and inform parents and caregivers about the exemption policy.

Who qualifies for school fees exemption in South Africa?

If the school fees equal 10% or more of the joint income, parents qualify for full exemption. There is partial exemption if fees are between 2.5% and 10% of income, also depending on the number of children the parents have attending a public school. How Do You Apply for a Fee Exemption?

Are both parents responsible for school fees in South Africa?

South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 (hereinafter the SASA). 2Section 40(1) SASA. 3There is a duty on both parents to maintain their children and this duty specifically includes providing children with suitable education (s 15(2) Maintenance Act 99 of 1998; s 18(2)(d) Children's Act 38 of 2005.

How to avoid paying school fees

What happens if I don t send my child to school South Africa?

The department said parents had a statutory duty to send their children to school, and that the state had legal recourse on that matter, as stipulated in section 3(1) of the SA Schools Act 84 of 1996, which states: “Every parent must cause every learner for whom he or she is responsible to attend a school from the ...

What is the no fee school policy in South Africa?

40% of schools in South Africa, namely the poorest two-fifths as determined by poverty indicators, were declared to be no fee schools as of 2007. These schools receive larger state allocations per learner than other schools, as well as a higher allocation for non-personnel, non-capital expenditure.

Who is responsible for paying school fees in South Africa?

Both biological parents are liable for the payment of school fees. However, the Schools Act creates liability for other categories of 'parents', such as adoptive parents, legal guardians, custodians, and other persons who have undertaken parental responsibility over a child.

Does South Africa have free education?

In South Africa, public schools are not automatically free of charge. While many are “no fee” schools, no special schools – where most children with disabilities are erroneously sent to – fall into that category. So, while most primary school age children do not pay fees, those with disabilities often do.

What is the educational policy in South Africa?

South African Schools Act of 1996, which promotes access to education, promotes quality and democratic governance in the schooling system, and makes schooling compulsory for children aged seven to 15 to ensure that all learners have access to quality education without discrimination.

Is school fees a statutory debt in South Africa?

The legal framework

Schools do have a right to enforce school fees. Parents also have a right to apply for a fee exemption. For this reason, the South African School Act sets out the procedure which schools are obliged to follow before exercising their right to enforce payment of fees against defaulting parents.

How many months do we pay school fees in South Africa?

✓ Fees are paid monthly, in advance, over 11 months. ✓ Parents may apply in writing, should they require permission to pay school fees over 12 months.

Do you have to pay to go to school in Africa?

There are many barriers to education for low-income households. One of them is school fees, which unfortunately remain widespread in schools across Sub-Saharan Africa, causing financial stress to families.

How long before you get blacklisted in South Africa?

It is possible to get 'blacklisted' within a few months. In South Africa, it can take as little as three missed payments or defaulting on a debt for a creditor to report negative information to a credit bureau, which may lead to being 'blacklisted'. That's pretty fast.

How long do you get blacklisted for in South Africa?

A judgment remains on your credit record for 5 years or until it is paid in full, or a rescission is granted by the courts. Although not always the case, in general a consumer is listed as defaulting before a credit provider applies for a judgment.

How do you know if you are blacklisted in South Africa?

You can find out whether you're 'blacklisted' in South Africa for FREE by checking your credit report from Meerkat.

Why is education so low in South Africa?

South Africa's education system leaves many children behind due to crumbling infrastructure, teacher shortages and a lack of educational progress. Only 20% of public schools are properly functional, with an enormous gap between the results they achieve and the outcomes of the other 80% of public schools.

Is South Africa considered a Third World Country?

The Third World includes all countries of Africa (except South Africa), Asia (except Japan), and Latin America and the Caribbean, and some states and territories of Oceania.

Why most South Africans still live under filthy conditions?

Answer: Answer - Apartheid's legacy. There are multiple reasons why many South Africans still live in impoverished and unsanitary conditions, but one of the primary reasons is the legacy of apartheid, which enforced racial segregation and created stark inequalities in access to resources, services, and opportunities.

How does the South African school system work?

The system is divided into 3 strata, namely general education and training, further education and training, and higher education and training. The process is compulsory through to grade 9, and spans 12 grades in total. The first 6 years are spent in primary school where literacy and numeracy are established.

Are school fees taxable in South Africa?

School fees are not automatically exempt from normal tax. It would be if the school is a public benefit organisation and is one that is approved by SARS under section 30 of the Income Tax Act. The fact that SARS taxed the fees indicates that the school is not approved.

How are public schools funded in South Africa?

Section 34 of the South African Schools Act obliges the state to 'fund public schools from public revenue on an equitable basis in order to ensure the proper exercise of the rights of learners to education and the redress of past inequalities in education provision'.

Can you sue a school South Africa?

The claimant would need to show that a reasonable school should have foreseen that certain conduct or failure to take certain actions would likely have the result of a learner suffering harm and that the school failed to take such reasonable steps to avoid the harm.

Why do kids drop out of school in South Africa?

The overarching reasons for dropping out of school reported by OSY in this study were school-related reasons such as poor school performance, vocational aspirations, social interactions and family-related reasons such as falling pregnant, lack of family support and financial difficulties, all of which concur with ...

Is it illegal to not go to school in South Africa?

Rights and Responsibilities of Parents - A Guide to Public School Policy. The South African Schools Act of 1996 requires all children between the ages of 7 and 15 to attend school. All parents and guardians must make sure that all learners of this age are registered to go to school.