WCED Investigates Illegal Registration Fees and Stresses on Swift Placement of Learners

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has taken a firm stance against the illegal practice of no-fee schools charging registration fees to parents for the placement or readmission of their children. This move comes amid the unfolding crisis of delayed placement for thousands of learners as the 2024 academic year gets underway.

It was on the morning of January 19, 2024, as the WCED confirmed their investigation into the aforementioned allegations, that the urgency of the situation intensified. Reports emerged of certain no-fee schools in Worcester demanding “registration fees” from parents – a move that sparked immediate intervention from the department.

The onset of the academic year has seen parents and learners in a state of uncertainty, with over 2,600 children still waiting to secure their spot in a suitable learning institution. Additionally, the WCED reported receiving 609 extremely late applications post-January 1.

Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) Khalid Sayed voiced concerns, not only about the daunting figure of unplaced children but also about unlawful fees being imposed on families, often those who can afford it the least. The exploitation of parents for illegal registration fees, regardless of the schools’ reasons, has been explicitly condemned by Sayed and the WCED, highlighting an urgent need for transparency and accountability among educational institutions.

The WCED's message is unyielding: no-fee schools have no right to charge any kind of registration fee, and families subjected to such demands are encouraged to contact the WCED district office for immediate support. The names of implicated schools have been sent for further investigation and action.

Despite the swift responses, the WCED acknowledges ongoing placement challenges. Parents convey stories of overcrowding and bureaucratic runarounds in the Metro East and Metro South areas, articulated by Vanessa Le Roux, founder of Parents for Equal Education SA. Le Roux points out the critical delay in getting learners placed, with some possibly facing a wait until March - a setback which could compromise an entire academic year for the affected children.

Parents, educators, and officials alike are calling for a marked improvement in the systematic processing of late applications and a strategic approach to addressing the capacity issues within the province. The concern extends beyond late applications, as Le Roux suggests there is a wider problem related to internal migrations, particularly from the Eastern Cape, and an overall shortage of school infrastructure in the Metro.

Bronagh Hammond, WCED spokesperson, has reassured the public that incidents such as the one at Worcester Secondary are being promptly handled and stresses the illegality of fee collection at no-fee schools. She also notes the need to consolidate and assess the numbers from the district offices as part of an overarching strategy to expedite learner placements.

The situation presents a clear call for swift, collaborative efforts to address both the immediate infringement of education policies and the broader systemic challenges affecting learner placement in the Western Cape.