With school fees on the rise, many parents are concerned about how they will budget for the new year Photo Pexels
South Africa – Over the next two weeks learners across the country will be returning to schools. While parents may be happy their kids are finally out of the house, the expense to send them to school is one parents are tired of seeing increasing.
Governing bodies of schools in South Africa estimated a four to six percent hike in school fees for 2023 year. However, South Africa’s top and most expensive private schools such as Hilton College, St John’s College and St Andrew’s College have had their fees increase by 7.8%, 8.6% and 6.5% respectively. Even government schools are not safe from the price hike. The average school fee increased between the top 5 most expensive state schools is 6%.
Budgeting for the school year
Parents are already having a headache budgeting for the new year. For Zahraa’, parent of a child in grade five, the increasing prices have created an extra worry and stress on her and her family. If it continues to rise, she may have to cut some luxuries from her life.
“Increasing prices have not only been heavy on our pockets, but also extremely stressful and worrisome. During December I would like to give my kids a well deserved holiday and break after a stressful school year. However if these increases continue, these breaks might have to come to an end.”
Higher school fees combined with the high cost of living
With school fees increasing drastically this year, parents are having to budget even tighter to ensure their child can be at school. With the cost of living increasing, many are feeling the strain on their pockets. Zahraa’ expressed her frustration at the rising price of school fees. She also questioned whether the price in fees would mean her child is given a better quality of education.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous. Not something I would expect from government schools. In order to make these payments, excluding school uniforms, stationery and transports, I don’t see myself leaving the office before 8pm every day. Not only are these increases having a strain on our pockets, they’re also taking away time I could be spending with the kids, when I’m at the office trying to bill more hours. Furthermore, even though the costs are increasing, the quality of education provided by government schools is decreasing. We will have to make cuts in other areas of our finances.”
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School fees should include stationery and uniforms
With school fees increasing at such a substantial rate, many parents are asking why stationery and school uniforms are not provided by the schools. This is an added cost on parents with some schools requiring parents to buy toiletries for their children and supplies needed for those extra mural activities.
Parents have taken to social media to complain about the price of stationery. State schools often hand out stationery such as notebooks and sometimes writing material to students before the start of the year. However, parents have pointed out that this year they are being forced to buy the stationery themselves. Furthermore, schools have select suppliers to produce their unique items such as blazers and trackpants. These suppliers charge excessive prices and Zahraa’ believes schools should do better when picking who will produce their unique items.
“I think the schools should consult more with parents on suppliers. They could even look into sponsorship to provide uniforms, as they sometimes do with sport kits. As I’ve previously stated, this increase in fees makes absolutely no sense when less and less is being provided for by the schools.”
The Competitive Commission South Africa has already warned schools and suppliers that it will not hesitate to prosecute those who do not comply with the law pertaining to the pricing of school uniforms. While they feel they have made great progress to improve the situation, Zahraa’ is adamant there is still much that needs to be done.
“My thoughts are that schools take the easier route even though it may be more expensive. The Competitive Commission, while it has done some work, is still far from creating the ideal situation in the market. Schools don’t take the time to find cheaper suppliers, but the easier one due to the fact that they are not paying. The commission needs to be stricter on schools and suppliers and hold them to account. At this rate, it is almost as if schools and suppliers are holding us hostage to their prices.”
