School fees exemption

[ld13]

My girlfriend and her ex has 2 children in school. They applied for exemption and the school only granted them exemption for the first term. Her financial situation changed to such a degree that she now has R1500 left in a month for everything after rent has been paid. Paying the school at the end of this month would mean that she cannot put food on the table.

I'm not sure how to proceed further. I am phoning up the school tomorrow to inform them of the change in this situation and to find out what the procedure is further. Can a public school refuse a parent full exemption from school fees?

 

[House]

My girlfriend and her ex has 2 children in school. They applied for exemption and the school only granted them exemption for the first term. Her financial situation changed to such a degree that she now has R1500 left in a month for everything after rent has been paid. Paying the school at the end of this month would mean that she cannot put food on the table.

I'm not sure how to proceed further. I am phoning up the school tomorrow to inform them of the change in this situation and to find out what the procedure is further. Can a public school refuse a parent full exemption from school fees?

Yes, unfortunately they can. They can refer the matter to the education department asking them to assist with the relocation of the child to another school - if needed.

But, 100% exemption is possible. Why doesn't she go to the school with her bank statements and proof of her expenses and explain her situation to the school principal. If need be, she can also ask for members of the school's governing body to be present as well.

Generally, schools will try to help as far as possible.

 

[DvD]

Did her financial position worsen or improve? You just mention that it changed. I assume it improved, otherwise there would surely not be any issue in getting a further exemption.

Did her ex's position change as well?

If payment of school fees would really mean no food on the table, I am sure they would be exempt from payment.

It's a very good idea to phone the school to clarify the situation. Presumably, your girlfriend and her ex would have to re-apply for exemption on the standard forms available at the school. As far as I know, you would have to disclose the relevant financial position. There is also an option of a partial exemption, if only a small amount can be paid.

I once heard that exemption can be refused if the learner is not in their nearest school, i.e. you cannot send a child to a school out of your residential "catchment area" and expect exemption. I am not sure if this is still the case, but it makes sense.

 

[lived666]

My girlfriend and her ex has 2 children in school. They applied for exemption and the school only granted them exemption for the first term. Her financial situation changed to such a degree that she now has R1500 left in a month for everything after rent has been paid. Paying the school at the end of this month would mean that she cannot put food on the table.

I'm not sure how to proceed further. I am phoning up the school tomorrow to inform them of the change in this situation and to find out what the procedure is further. Can a public school refuse a parent full exemption from school fees?

If her financial situation is real then if she submits the required documents I'm sure they will extend the exemption.
They can't expel the kids or punish them due to non payment.

Actually schools hate the Department sticking their noses into their affairs so that can always be used as a last resort in her favour, if the financial situation is genuine.

Sad case though when too many parents apply you end up with a broken school - Sandringham is a prime example, I don't know if they even have a principle at the moment, they didn't at one stage.

 

[ld13]

Why doesn't she go to the school with her bank statements and proof of her expenses and explain her situation to the school principal. Generally, schools will try to help as far as possible.

At this stage she is an emotional zombie. Will be getting her bank statements - it shows the extent of the situation very clearly. I'm seriously hoping that they will help ...

Did her financial position worsen or improve?

I once heard that exemption can be refused if the learner is not in their nearest school, i.e. you cannot send a child to a school out of your residential "catchment area" and expect exemption. I am not sure if this is still the case, but it makes sense.

The financial situation worsened. Ex's situation is probably still the same. From what I am aware the "catchment area" or whatnot does not exist (anymore)?

If her financial situation is real then if she submits the required documents I'm sure they will extend the exemption.

There is a pretty real elastic band installed into her capitec account .... salary in, rent out, R1500 left. School fees amounts to ~R2000.

 

[House]

At this stage she is an emotional zombie. Will be getting her bank statements - it shows the extent of the situation very clearly. I'm seriously hoping that they will help ...

I am sure they will.

Make an appointment with the principal, he is ultimately the last person who has the final say. Do not work through a lady appointed in dealing with these matters.

With the bank statements, a salary slip and perhaps a short expense report I cannot see why they would not help.

 

[DvD]

The financial situation worsened. Ex's situation is probably still the same. From what I am aware the "catchment area" or whatnot does not exist (anymore)?

If it worsened, the case for an exemption must be even stronger, so I am sure getting an exemption will not be a problem.

A colleague of my wife wanted to send his child to a specific school in the Northern Suburbs - the child was refused, as the catchment area border runs down their street. If he lived a block closer, his child would have been accepted. This was a year or 2 ago though, so I am not sure if this is still the case.

 

[Shi]

There is a pretty real elastic band installed into her capitec account .... salary in, rent out, R1500 left. School fees amounts to ~R2000.

2K a month? My son's school fees is almost as much but the school 'discourages' parents from applying for exemption. They tend to not be able to make up those fees from the department if the student gets an exception.

 

[Venomous]

2K a month? My son's school fees is almost as much but the school 'discourages' parents from applying for exemption. They tend to not be able to make up those fees from the department if the student gets an exception.

:erm:

R2k for 2 children seems reasonable in a government school.
If you are paying R2k for 1 child at a government school, then you are being ripped off. No wonder the school does not want exemptions, government will only pay/sub a certain rand value, and won't over pay.

The OP refers to someone who has financial constraints. The children are not in a private school. Said person is permitted to apply for partial or full exemption, if it will relieve the parent's financial burdens. Going to school on a fed tummy is important.

 

[Bryn]

:erm:

R2k for 2 children seems reasonable in a government school.
If you are paying R2k for 1 child at a government school, then you are being ripped off. No wonder the school does not want exemptions, government will only pay/sub a certain rand value, and won't over pay.

The OP refers to someone who has financial constraints. The children are not in a private school. Said person is permitted to apply for partial or full exemption, if it will relieve the parent's financial burdens. Going to school on a fed tummy is important.

My junior and high school are government schools that currently charge over R2k each per month. I'm sure many others do too. The schools were excellent and had much better facilities than any private or government school in town that I'd been inside and could compare with.

 

[Venomous]

My junior and high school are government schools that currently charge over R2k each per month. I'm sure many others do too. The schools were excellent and had much better facilities than any private or government school in town that I'd been inside and could compare with.

I just asked a friend. Her kiddie is in grade 1 in a government school. The school has the best rep in the area. She pays R1.1k per month over 10 months. Extra R150 kittie money for books government does not provide and school wishes to use, and 2 field trips in the year.

 

[Bryn]

I just asked a friend. Her kiddie is in grade 1 in a government school. The school has the best rep in the area. She pays R1.1k per month over 10 months. Extra R150 kittie money for books government does not provide and school wishes to use, and 2 field trips in the year.

Sounds about on par with what my parents had to pay. Grade 1 is the cheapest, grade 2 is a bit more and grades 3-7 pay the same. And high school is a fair jump in fees.

If the demand is high enough for any particular government school, there's no reason they can't charge more (even much more) and provide more teachers and better facilities. I've seen private schools that have very, very basic classrooms, buildings and sports facilities, so there's no guarantee of quality just because you've gone private and are paying R80k+ per year.

 

[pixel_ninja]

The things we do for a shag!

 

[Electric]

The things we do for a shag!

Help out our girlfriends that are in need?
That seems pretty admirable really.

 

[Polish]

Help out our girlfriends that are in need?
That seems pretty admirable really.

+1

 

[Alton Turner Blackwood]

At this stage she is an emotional zombie. Will be getting her bank statements - it shows the extent of the situation very clearly. I'm seriously hoping that they will help ...

The financial situation worsened. Ex's situation is probably still the same. From what I am aware the "catchment area" or whatnot does not exist (anymore)?

There is a pretty real elastic band installed into her capitec account .... salary in, rent out, R1500 left. School fees amounts to ~R2000.

Why the hell is those fees so high? She needs to either
a) Look for a cheaper school - and don't tell me that's the cheapest. My daughter's school fees are R1 000 per year
b) Reapply for a subsidy
c) Just not pay. (actually, legally the school can't and won't do anything to her. The governing body manages the school's finances, the teachers manage the education part. These two areas may legally not mix, ie: the school can't for instance not give her child's report because of her financial situation because the teachers should not mingle in financial affairs, so they'll be oblivious to the fact)

By the way, I worked for 4.5 years for the DoE, so trust me on the above

 

[Carol35]

Why the hell is those fees so high? She needs to either
a) Look for a cheaper school - and don't tell me that's the cheapest. My daughter's school fees are R1 000 per year
b) Reapply for a subsidy
c) Just not pay. (actually, legally the school can't and won't do anything to her. The governing body manages the school's finances, the teachers manage the education part. These two areas may legally not mix, ie: the school can't for instance not give her child's report because of her financial situation because the teachers should not mingle in financial affairs, so they'll be oblivious to the fact)

By the way, I worked for 4.5 years for the DoE, so trust me on the above

Actually, they will blacklist her and sic their lawyers on her to harass her every day- colleague going through this even thou her ex is supposed to pay school fees as per divorce agreement, the schools don't care about that, both parents are responsible.

 

[Alton Turner Blackwood]

Actually, they will blacklist her and sic their lawyers on her to harass her every day- colleague going through this even thou her ex is supposed to pay school fees as per divorce agreement, the schools don't care about that, both parents are responsible.

Yeah, that's what I meant. The governing body can be a bunch of sharks to get their money, they may not adversely influence the child's education however.

 

[rebel998]

There don't seem to be a fixed criteria for exemption. I think they give it on a random basis. I know of cases where parents got exepmtion from one school but the other kid that was in a different school, did not. Even though the parents submitted the same finacials to both schools???