How can I get financial help to pay for my children's school fees and stationery?

The long answer

Let’s start with school fees: All children in South Africa have the right to basic education. A child may not be excluded from school because of non-payment of school fees.

Legal Aid explains that, if the Minister of Education declares that your school is a “no fee” school, you don’t have to pay any school fees.

All other state schools are “fee-charging” schools.

If the school fees are more than 10% of the combined gross income of both parents, the child will be fully exempt from paying school fees.

If the school fees are between 3.5% and 10% of the combined gross income of both parents, the child will qualify for partial exemption.

You can get forms to apply for school fee exemptions at the school. 

The Education Department says that public schools must inform parents of how the exemption process works and assist them in applying for exemption from paying school fees. 

Once you’ve completed the form, you send it back to the school with a letter to the School Governing Body (SGB) asking for a school fee exemption. You must send a payslip or a letter from your employer together with your letter. If you are unemployed or self-employed, you must provide an affidavit explaining how you support the child or children.

The SGB has 30 days to evaluate your application, and they must send you their decision within seven days after deciding. 

You have 30 days to appeal their decision to the provincial Head of the Department Education. The Education Department says that it is the responsibility of every public school to assist the parents in lodging appeals. 

Moving to school stationery: 

The Gift of the Givers gives out stationery packs at the start of every school year. Between 400 and 500 children benefit from this each year, with each child receiving a pack with pens, pencils, notebooks, colouring books, colouring pencils, erasers, rulers, sharpeners and files. 

These are their contact details:

• Gift of the Givers

National Call Centre Toll Free Number: 0800 786 911

Email: [email protected]

Help a Child South Africa also assists with stationery. These are their contact details:

• Help a Child South Africa

Address: Strathavon 11, 152 Katherine Street, Sandton,

Gauteng, Johannesburg 2196

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +27 (0) 87 265 1916

Cell: +27 (0) 84 559 9179

WhatsApp: +27 (0) 10 006 7093

You can also reach out to NGOs and charities like Joburg Child Welfare and the Dischem Foundation that help with stationery. 

Look for local community groups and organisations in your area and find out who can help with school stationery.

Wishing you the best,
Athalie