Independent schools seek probe into subsidies

The National Alliance of Independent Schools has asked the Public Protector to investigate the payment of school subsidies in five provinces.

"Provincial departments ignore the norms and standards for payment of subsidies to low and mid-fee schools," Independent Schools Association head Jane Hofmeyr said in Johannesburg.

The association is a member of the national alliance.

The complaint is against five provinces – Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga.

Hofmeyr said 630 schools and 130 000 pupils were affected.

The alliance had also filed papers at the Constitutional Court against the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government after it lost a case in the High Court in Durban. The court also denied it leave to appeal.

The Constitutional Court would hear the matter for the first time in November, said Hofmeyr.

"KwaZulu-Natal is the delinquent province... they have been cutting subsidies since 2008 and deliberately not allocating adequate amounts in its annual budget estimates for subsidies."

The Eastern Cape had not paid correct amounts since 2004, Hofmeyr claimed.

"No new independent school since 2008 has been paid their subsidies in the Eastern Cape."

Independent schools in the Eastern Cape were only receiving between 30% and 35% of what was due to them.

Mpumalanga decided to cut subsidies by 50%, Limpopo had "vast" shortfalls in payments, while the North West did not have proper supporting information.

"Maladministration leaves these schools, which depend so much on these subsidies, in dire straits," Hofmeyr said.

Subsidies covered at least 50% of the schools' budgets.

Hofmeyr said the alliance was still awaiting word from Public Protector Thuli Madonsela on whether she would investigate.