By Charmaine Ndlela
Education authorities and opposition politicians have urged public schools not to withhold report cards over unpaid school fees, after complaints that some pupils ended the 2025 academic year without knowing whether they had progressed to the next grade.
Section 25(12) of the National Protocol on Assessment (NPA) for Grades R–12 states: “A learner’s progress report or school report must not be withheld for any reason, including non-payment of fees.”
The Department of Basic Education says school fees are an agreed amount paid by parents to improve the quality of education, and may not include registration, administration, or additional subject fees.
The department said fee-paying public schools may take legal action against parents who fail to pay, but only after exemption criteria have been applied and parents are found liable.
It said learners must remain in school during the process and cannot be excluded from official school programmes due to non-payment, adding that a school may not retain a learner’s report because the parent cannot afford to pay school fees.
Ashleigh Laurent, legal counsel at Tenant Profile Network (TPN) Credit Bureau, said enforcement steps must follow exemption checks and written notices.
“Government schools can only take action against non-paying parents once they have determined if the parents qualify for a full exemption, partial or conditional exemption from payment and are required to notify parents in writing if they have not applied for an exemption. The government school can send a letter of demand giving the parents three months to pay from date of receipt of the letter.”
According to TPN data released in June 2024, 66% of independent school fee accounts were paid on time and in full, compared to 42% of fee-paying public school accounts. In the first quarter of 2024, TPN said 30% of parents at fee-paying public schools made no payments, while 22% made partial payments and only 28% of fees were paid on time, compared with 15% of parents making no payments and 32% making partial payments at independent schools.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal called on public schools and School Governing Bodies (SGBs) to comply with the law and release report cards without prejudice.
DA education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi said report cards are critical for progression, applications and academic continuity, and advised parents not to confront schools but to lodge formal complaints with provincial education departments at circuit or district offices.
Provincial departments have also issued warnings. The North West Department of Education in December condemned the denial of report cards, with MEC Viola Motsumi saying:
“I have received numerous calls from parents and learners across the province who complain about learners being denied their reports cards. This action is highly unacceptable and those school principals should desist from doing so.”
The Mpumalanga Department of Education also urged schools not to withhold learner report cards under any circumstances, urging parents to report any institution that fails to comply, and said report cards are the official tool showing a learner’s progress, strengths and areas for improvement.
In Gauteng, MEC for Education Matome Chiloane encouraged parents to honour school fee commitments and urged families to plan for fees during the festive season, saying: “Together we can ensure that all learners in Gauteng receive the best possible education and that all schools will run smoothly.”
INSIDE EDUCATION
