Parents' fees struggle

INCREASE: EXEMPTIONS FROM SCHOOL LEVY COULD TOP R10BN THIS YEAR

- Anathi Madubela

As School fees rise significantly this year; many parents face increased financial strain. Fee-paying schools are grappling with higher costs, including the growing cost of exemptions.

Fee-paying schools could grant exemptions of between R7.4 billion and R10.8 billion to parents in 2025, according to the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (Fedsas).

Riaan van der Bergh, deputy chief executive of Fedsas, says that over the past three years, schools have reported a sharp increase in the number of exemption applications and the total exemptions granted.

"This has a detrimental effect on the funding model of schools and results in higher fees for those parents who pay," he says.

"It puts financial pressure on schools and the sustainability of fee-paying schools."