As the academic year draws to a close, schools have been warned against excluding learners from school activities or threatening to withhold their report cards for outstanding fees.
This comes as parents and learners at Jamaica Way Primary School in Mitchells Plain claim the principal Matilda Marsh has been victimising children who parents have defaulted on payments.
A mother, who spoke to Weekend Argus based on anonymity for fear of victimisation, claimed her the principal castigated her child in front of classmates for unpaid fees.
“The principal victimises learners whose school fees is not paid, telling them that their parents can pay registration fees at high schools but can't afford to pay their school fees.
The woman said she also barred children whose fees were in arrears from graduation ceremony. “She also uses their graduation as (leverage) to pay their school fees. I know some parents cannot pay their children’s fees due to their circumstances. It’s unfair to do this in front of other children, especially when the responsibility doesn’t even fall on them.
“If she really took interest she would know that a lot of these kids are exempted from paying fees because they receive a social grant or do not have parents.
“Her actions also lead to bullying from other learners because now they make fun of each other. What I would want as a parent is to be called in privately so that we could speak to each other as adults, don’t involve my child.”
A Grade 7 learner said the principal’s attitude affected their school life.
“When she comes to class, you don't know what to expect, or who she will call out.”
The learner’s mother alleged her child was victimised even though she was exempted from fees.
“It is concerning that things that should be discussed with me (are) instead being discussed with my child.There is so much unfairness; for instance, the school had a fund-raiser where children had to bring R150 and if they didn’t they wouldn’t wear casual-wear clothes. It’s not right and shines the spotlight on the poor children,” said the 37-year-old mother.
The Equal Education Law Centre (EELC) said section 41(7) of the South African Schools Act stipulated that learners may not be deprived of their right to participate at a public school because of non-payment of school fees.
“The Schools Act also asserts that a learner may not be victimised in any manner, including suspension from classes; verbal and non-verbal abuse; denial of access to cultural, sporting, or social activities of the school; or denial of a school report or transfer certificate, due to non-payment of school fees,” said the centre.
The centre said it received many complaints where schools were threatening to prevent learners from attending their matric dance as a stratagem to compel parents to pay school fees or withholding results.
The Western Cape Education Department said it paid out more than R84 million to schools to compensate for learners who could not afford to pay their fees for the 2022/23 financial year.
The department’s spokesperson, Millicent Merton, said schools cannot withhold a report card due to non-payment of school fees.
“However, schools can request that parents collect the report card from the principal or school management. This gives them the opportunity to discuss outstanding school fees and possible payment arrangements.
“In some cases, schools want to discuss the return of textbooks, or even raise concerns regarding the learner’s academic record the past year.”
Merton said there was nothing illegal about the request for a discussion.
“It is also understandable that some schools would want to discuss non-payment of fees given the financial circumstances schools find themselves in.
“After this discussion, a school cannot refuse to hand over the report card. If the parent still maintains that her/his child’s report is being withheld, the parent can contact the district office.”
Merton said the principal of the school, however, denies the claims made by the parents about victimisation pertaining to school fees.
“All parents are reminded of the importance of paying school fees. Qualifying parents may apply for fee exemptions,” said Merton.