Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has strongly criticised schools and School Governing Bodies (SGBs) accused of unlawfully withholding learners’ report cards and placing financial pressure on parents, particularly at no-fee schools. The committee has warned that such practices violate the law and undermine the constitutional right to basic education.
Committee chairperson Ms Joy Maimela said the committee had received multiple complaints indicating that some learners were being denied access to their academic report cards because their parents were unable to participate in fundraising activities. These actions, she said, are unacceptable and unlawful, especially in communities where families are already struggling financially.
Maimela emphasised that a learner’s academic progress must never be used as leverage to force parents into making financial contributions. She stressed that access to report cards is a fundamental part of a learner’s educational journey and should never be withheld under any circumstances. According to the committee, punishing learners for the financial challenges faced by their parents is both unethical and discriminatory.
The committee also raised alarm over reports that parents at no-fee schools are being required to purchase stationery for their children. Maimela described this practice as a direct violation of education policy, noting that the government provides learner teacher support material, including stationery, to no-fee schools. She warned that SGBs and school management teams do not have the authority to introduce measures that conflict with existing legislation and departmental regulations.
Participation in fundraising initiatives, the committee reiterated, is entirely voluntary. Maimela made it clear that learners must not be marginalised or punished because their parents are unable to contribute financially. She said such conduct goes against the principles of equity and inclusivity that form the foundation of South Africa’s education system.
The committee further cautioned that placing financial pressure on parents at no-fee schools defeats the very purpose of the no-fee school policy. Parents who enrol their children in these schools do so with the understanding that the policy exists to protect them from compulsory education-related costs. Any direct or indirect attempts to force parents to incur expenses undermine the intent of the policy and erode trust in the education system.
In response to these concerns, the committee has called on provincial education departments to urgently intervene wherever these practices are reported. It has urged departments to ensure that school management teams and SGBs are fully informed of their legal responsibilities and comply with all applicable laws and policies. The committee also reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing oversight to ensure adherence to education legislation.
Parents and guardians experiencing these challenges have been encouraged to report them to their provincial education departments. Where necessary, they should escalate the matter to ensure swift intervention and accountability.
Beyond report card withholding, the committee also highlighted concerns about delays in the delivery of learner teacher support material to no-fee schools in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the new academic year. Maimela warned that delays in supplying textbooks and stationery severely disrupt teaching and learning, particularly in under-resourced schools.
She noted that while learners in other provinces have already received their materials or are scheduled to collect them at the start of the school term, delays in KwaZulu-Natal risk placing learners at an unfair disadvantage. Without essential learning resources, learners cannot be expected to keep up with the curriculum or perform to their full potential.
The committee expressed concern that some schools are being forced to improvise or shift the burden onto parents by asking them to provide materials that should be supplied by the state. It called on the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education to urgently explain the delays, provide clear delivery timelines, and implement corrective measures to prevent further disruptions.
The Portfolio Committee reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of learners and ensuring that access to quality education is not compromised by unlawful, exclusionary, or discriminatory practices.
