The great migration

30 October 2011 - 03:13 By PREGA GOVENDER
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BRIGHT FUTURES: Anele Songca, 14, and his brother Olwethu, 17, with their mother Zola at Michaelhouse in KwaZulu-Natal Picture: JACKIE CLAUSEN
BRIGHT FUTURES: Anele Songca, 14, and his brother Olwethu, 17, with their mother Zola at Michaelhouse in KwaZulu-Natal Picture: JACKIE CLAUSEN

DR Zola-Duma Songca moonlights at two HIV/Aids clinics so she can earn an extra R17000 a month for her son's private school fees.

Songca, a Pietermaritzburg general practitioner, and her husband, Dr Patuxolo Songca, a gynaecologist, have two children at Michaelhouse in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

They are among thousands of middle-class parents who have either taken on extra jobs or cut other spending so they can give their children a private school education.

Despite the recession, enrolment at private schools has increased by more than 86000 since 2009 while public school enrolment dropped by 30450, according to figures from the Department of Basic Education.

Songca said: "There's no discipline, no consequences, kids do whatever they want [in state schools]. In schools like Michaelhouse you see your child grow from an ordinary boy into something special."

She pays the fees for one son while her husband pays for the other.

"To be honest, the money from [the clinics] pays the school fees for my boys. I couldn't have sent them on my GP's salary."

The huge demand for a better quality education has resulted in the registration of 279 more private schools since 2009, bringing the total number of such schools to 1486. Just under 480000 pupils attend private schools while 11.8million are at government schools.

The Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (Isasa) said this week that the almost 700 schools it represents reported an increase of about 5000 pupils a year.

Isasa executive director Dr Jane Hofmeyr said black enrolment had increased significantly because black parents "want quality education, accountability, safety for their children, sound discipline and a good English, maths and science education".

She said property developers were building schools along with their new estates.

Hofmeyr said examples of increased enrolment from last year to this year included: Southdowns College in Irene, Pretoria, 842 to 1075; Midstream College in Midrand, 1611 to 1759; Parklands College in Cape Town, 981 to 1031; and Oakhill School in Knysna, 413 to 449.

Fees at top-end former model C schools range from R18000 to R30000 a year while newer, independent school Elkanah House in Cape Town charges R53940 for grades 7 to 12.

The country's top private schools including St John's College, Bishops, Michaelhouse and Hilton College have had to turn down hundreds of pupils wanting places next year due to lack of space.

There were 225 applicants for 72 places in grade R at St John's College next year and 234 applicants for 75 places in grade 8. At least 250 applicants applied for 110 places in grade 8 at Michaelhouse.

Johannesburg businessman Gino Ganchi, 62, coughs up a staggering R100000 a month in school fees for one daughter and 14 grandchildren at seven different private schools.

"We used to go out for meals five, six times a week, but we are sacrificing that to make sure they get an education," Ganchi said.

"I have lost faith in public schools. I just feel in public schools there's no discipline and classes are overcrowded."

Chemical engineer Greg Anderson, who moved from Johannesburg to Nottingham Road in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands to be closer to his three boys who are at Michaelhouse, said they cut back on overseas trips.

"We don't eat out. My children don't always get what they want but they are acutely aware of the opportunity that is being provided to them and don't take it for granted," he said.

Another Johannesburg parent, Adeola Adejuyigbe, who has a son at Hilton College, said:

"I don't have a pet because a pet is a luxury. I buy my clothes on sales. You will not find any designer-wear in my closet."

Grant Nupen, headmaster of Bishops, said pupils were not moving from former model C schools to private schools but from underperforming state schools.

Roger Cameron, principal of St John's College, said there were some "wonderful, outstanding public schools" as well as some "disastrous" ones, particularly in the township areas.

The Department of Basic Education said in a statement there was no evidence that the quality of education provided by private schools was better than that in public schools.

"However, various steps are being taken to improve the quality of public schools," it said.

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