The government needs to review the contradictions between its stated objectives in education and reality on the ground with children of the poor being turned away from schools because they cannot pay school fees, says Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille.
The fiery MP said at a news conference on Monday there is a contradiction in that school governing bodies are Section 21 companies in terms of the Schools Act, which can pursue parents of children who are not paying school fees.
This contradicts Section 29 of the Constitution, which guarantees every South African the right to basic education.
“In today’s world we believe that education to the level of matric must be considered basic,” said De Lille.
She noted too that government policy is that no learner can be denied admission or otherwise discriminated against on grounds of the parents’ inability or failure to pay fees.
De Lille said she had already received about 50 complaints about children being refused entry to high schools because their parents had not paid their primary school fees — and therefore could not receive the previous year’s report card.
“Given the enormous levels of poverty in our country we cannot tolerate a situation whereby a child’s right to education is jeopardised by [his/her] parents’ financial predicament.”
“Education is the most important investment this country can make. It is only with an education that these children will have a chance to break out of their poverty-stricken circumstances.”
Parents are not aware of their rights, she said, noting that her party has set up a call centre on Tel: 0861 121 344 to with complaints. — I-Net Bridge