Parliament, Friday, 9 January 2026 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Joy Maimela, has expressed a serious concern about reports that some schools and School Governing Bodies (SGBs) are withholding learners’ academic report cards because parents are unable to participate in fundraising activities due to financial constraints.
Furthermore, Ms Maimela said the committee has also received complaints and it notes social media posts about parents at no-fee schools that are required to purchase stationery. The Chairperson emphasised that such practices are unlawful and undermine the constitutional right of learners to basic education.
“A learner’s academic progress and access to report cards can and must never be used as leverage to compel parents to contribute financially or participate in fundraising activities,” emphasised the Chairperson.
She added: “Government makes provision for learner teacher support material (LTSM), including stationary, at no-fee paying schools. SGBs or school managements can therefore not implement new measures that are in conflict with legislation, regulations and policies.”
Ms Maimela reiterated that participation in school fundraising initiatives at schools are voluntary and must not result in any form of punishment or discrimination against learners. “Penalising learners for the socio-economic circumstances of their parents is unjust, unethical and contrary to the aim and principles of equity and inclusivity that underpin South Africa’s education system.
“Parents who have enrolled their children in no-fee schools should not be pressured, directly or indirectly, to incur costs that the law explicitly seeks to prevent. Such actions defeat the very purpose of the no-fee school policy,” the Chairperson said.
The committee calls on provincial education departments to urgently intervene where these practices are reported and to ensure that school management teams and SGBs are fully aware of their legal obligations. The committee will continue to exercise oversight to ensure compliance with the South African Schools Act, the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act and relevant departmental policies.
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Parents and guardians who experience these challenges are encouraged to report them to their provincial education departments and to escalate them where necessary. The committee remains committed to protecting the rights and dignity of learners and ensuring that access to education is not compromised by unlawful or exclusionary practices.
The committee is extremely concerned over reports of the non-delivery of some LTSM to no-fee paying schools in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), at the start of the academic year next week.
Ms Maimela said the failure to deliver textbooks, and stationery timeously undermines teaching and learning and disadvantages learners, particularly those in under-resourced and no-fee schools. “In other provinces, learners have either already collected LTSM or will do so at the start of next week so that learning and teaching commences on the first day of school. Learners cannot be expected to perform or keep up with the curriculum when essential learning materials are not available,” she said.
The committee is particularly concerned that some schools are forced to improvise or place pressure on parents to provide materials, despite clear policy provisions that assign this responsibility to the state. “We call on the KZN Department of Education to urgently account for the delays, provide clear timelines for delivery, and implement corrective measures to prevent further disruptions.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION, MS JOY MAIMELA
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Name: Rajaa Azzakani (Ms)
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E-mail: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
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