Minister announces fees structure for public schools

EDUCATION Minister David Coltart announced a new school fees structure for public schools on Thursday which will see poorer students pay less or nothing.
Pupils enrolled in primary schools in affluent suburbs will pay up to US$150 per term, with their counterparts in high density suburbs paying US$20. Rural schools will not charge fees, the minister announced.
Coltart said a means test was in place to help parants or guardians of vulnerable children and orphans who cannot pay the designated fees. School heads will determine if such children qualify for State support.
"No child who is the subject of such an application for State assistance is to be excluded from school whilst the application is being considered,” said Coltart, who is also the Senator for Khumalo.
Coltart said secondary schools in low density areas will be allowed to charge up to US$200 per term for Forms 1-4 enrolments, and US$280 for Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth enrolments. Their poorer counterparts in high density urban zones US$100 and US$180 respectively. Foreign students will pay US$600 in both instances.
Students in rural areas will pay US$50 for Forms 1 to 4 and US$80 for Advanced Level per term. Foreign students are to pay US$200.
Coltart said: “It should be stressed that these fees have been arrived at bearing in mind the current actual costs involved in purchasing teaching and learning materials.
"It is hoped that cost savings may be made in future which will then enable the government to consider reducing fees. Whilst the government is committed to providing affordable education for all our children, we have been left with no option at this juncture but to charge these fees to return our schools to basic viability.”
The government recently struck a deal with teachers to end a year-long job boycott after undertaking to pay their salaries in United States dollars -- a response to rampant inflation which is the highest in the world.
With most schools opening last week and this week, Coltart also announced examination fees from Grace 7 to A’ Level.
Primary school pupils in low-density areas will be required to pay US$15 for their Grade 7 examinations whereas those in high-density and rural areas will not pay.
Ordinary Level examinations will be US$15 per subject, fees for oral examinations will be US$10 per subject and fees for science and practical subjects will be US$10 per subject, Coltart said.
The minister said his statement did not cover fees charged by private schools, including trust and mission schools.
"I am aware of some concerns relating to non-government schools and these are in the process of being addressed,’’ he said.