Gauteng’s 65% subsidy cut will prompt higher public school fees – SA schools’ governing bodies

Hundreds of fee-paying public schools in Gauteng have been left scrambling to revise their budgets after the provincial Education Department slashed learner subsidies by 65%, which reduces the per-learner subsidy from R879 to R315.

"In real financial terms, a 65% drop is actually R500 per learner, per year. So, it's a cappuccino per month, so it's not that substantial, but if you're operating a school of 1200 learners, which is more or less the average size of a school in Gauteng, then suddenly it's R600,000 less income for the next year, and that's substantial. Parents will have to pay for the deficit if the Department doesn't step up," explained Dr Jaco Deacon, CEO of FEDSAS.

He says that many Quintile 5 schools are not wealthy, as they serve learners bused in from poorer communities, despite being located in affluent areas. 

"Where a school is situated in an affluent area, it doesn't reflect on the financial status or the socio-economic status of your school community.

"Schools really depend on that money, even in your so-called rich schools."

To listen to Deacon in conversation with 702 and CapeTalk's Africa Melane, use the audio player below: