Circular 14
Circular 14/2010 9 March 2010
Dear Parents
REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE EXEMPTION OF PARENTS FROM PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
You are hereby informed by the principal and Governing Body that the content and process of partial or total exemption, is regulated by legislation and published in the Governmet Gazette No 29311 of 18 October 2006. A copy of this regulation is available at the school’s financial office.
1. SCHOOL FEES
At a budget meeting, which was held on 9 November 2009, the parents of the school decided that the school fees would be R8 850 per year for 2010. This amount is payable in equal payments over a period of 10 months. A once off payment of R8 400 may be paid if the full, annual payment is made before 28 February 2010.
2. ENFORCEMENT OF PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES
The school is not classified as a “no school fees school” and school fees are therefore legally forcible. Parents who do not qualify for exemption are responsible for payment of school fees in terms of article 39 of the South African School Act of 1996. According to the terms of article 40 and 41 of the South African School Act the Governing Body may enforce this responsibility.
3. PROCEDURE FOR TOTAL OR PARTIAL EXEMPTION OF SCHOOL FEES
To qualify for partial or total exemption the parents’ combined bruto annual income (point 6.2 of the regulation) is used as the criterion.
The exemption form is obtainable at the financial office and must be completed in detail and handed in personally at the financial office.
The Governing Body will process the information within 30 days after receipt of the application and a decision will be made according to prescribed tables (point 6.2(a) of the regulation).
Parents who make use of this option, have the right to discuss the information personally with the Governing Body or the committee concerned, or name a representative to act on his/her behalf.
Once the decision has been taken regarding exemption, the Governing Body furthermore has the responsibility of communicating with the parent in writing within 7 days, stating the reasons for the decision.
If a parent does not qualify for exemption, he/she may appeal to the Head of Department (WCED) within 30 days of the Governing Body’s decision, for further consideration.
4. COMPLETION OF ADDENDUM A
According to the regulations of the above-mentioned, all parents are expected to complete Annexure A for each learner after the perusal of this script. Learners must hand in completed Annexure A forms to the class teacher by Friday 12 March 2010. A copy will be sent to the WCED and you will receive a copy. The original copy will be filed at the school. It is therefore important that the form should be completed and returned to the school as soon as possible.
5. APPRECIATION
The parent body is hereby thanked for their loyalty and support of the school. The experience in the past serves as proof, that our parents have accepted their financial responsibility for the sake of realizing the goals of the school.
Last year it was a challenge for the school regarding the recovery of school fees. Exemptions must be financed as an expense item on the school’s annual budget. Application for exemption must therefore be handled with great circumspection by parents.
Yours sincerely
J.C. Swart R. de Lange H. Boshoff
PRINCIPAL CHAIRMAN : GOVERNING BODY TREASURER : GOVERNING BODY
ANNEXURE A
SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS ACT, NO. 84 OF 1996
REGULATIONS FOR THE EXEMPTION OF PARENTS FROM PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES
CHECKLIST FORM *
(Mark with a cross in applicable box.)
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1. |
Has the principal informed you about the amount of the annual school fees to be paid? |
YES |
NO |
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2. |
Has the principal informed you that you are liable for the payment of school fees unless you are totally exempted from paying school fees? |
YES |
NO |
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3. |
Has the principal informed you about your right to apply for exemption from paying school fees? |
YES |
NO |
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4. |
Do you wish to apply for such exemption? |
YES |
NO |
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5. |
Do you wish to be assisted in making such application? |
YES |
NO |
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6. |
Has the principal provided you with the form (Annexure B) for application for exemption? |
YES |
NO |
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_________________ _________________
Name of Principal Name of Parent
_________________ _________________
Signature of Principal Signature of Parent
Date: ____________ Date: ____________
School stamp: _________________
Name of Learner and Grade
* One copy of the signed form will be handed over to the parent, another will be submitted to the Head of Department or his or her delegate, and the original will be filed at the school.