At least 60% of pupils will get access to free basic education in terms of an action plan approved by the cabinet last week, Education Minister Kader Asmal said on Tuesday.
The plan included ensuring that all provinces fund pupils with similar levels of poverty to the same extent, he told reporters in Cape Town and Pretoria.
”A national norm based on a minimum package of R450 in 2003 terms… will be allocated per learner for non-personnel recurrent items starting with the poorest 20% of learners in South Africa.”
Over three years this would be extended to the poorest 60% of pupils — or seven million — in the poorest schools, Asmal said. Pupils who qualified for certain social service grants and payments would automatically be exempt from paying school fees, he said.
From next year, the poorest 40% of schools will have to get approval from their education department to charge fees, and motivate them, the plan says.
The national department is to amend current exemption measures to ensure all those who cannot pay fees are duly exempt from doing so. A school uniform policy will be passed by next year at the latest to ensure affordable clothing for all pupils. A standardised school uniform is one option being considered, the document reads. – Sapa