School subsidies cut

QUINTILE FIVE: CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT ‘POSSIBILITY OF HIKED FEES’

- Jarryd Westerdale

People in Jiuquan, northwestern China's Gansu province, on Wednesday next to a replica of a Long March-2F carrier rocket, days before the launch of the manned Shenzhou-21 mission to Tiangong space station

(AFP)

Gauteng schools will face greater financial pressure next year after hefty cuts to government subsidies.

Quintile five schools, fee-paying public schools, were informed this month that subsidies would be reduced from R879 per pupil to R315 per pupil.

Those opposing this 65% funding reduction lambasted the timing of the announcement, as 2026 budgets were already in place at most schools, forcing a scramble to put in place contingencies.

The Gauteng department of education (GDE) informed schools of the changes early this month.

The end of September was the deadline for funding changes, but the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (Fedsas) insists the announcement was unprocedural because the letters were received after the deadline.

"The decision is invalid since the GDE did not adhere to the deadline," said Fedsas' Jaco Deacon.