Consumers may apply for subsidised school fees

Consumers may apply for subsidised school fees or exemption of school fees from the school’s Governing Body when in need. This is normally done annually before 28 February.

NDRC Practice NoteLast reviewed 2026-04

What this means in practice

Public-school fee exemption is a statutory right where household income falls below the threshold set by the Department of Basic Education. The application is made to the school governing body and the result becomes part of the affordability record.

Legal context

Anchor: South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 read with regulation 1052 of 18 October 2006.

Drawn from NDRC's active case work. For your situation, see our debt counselling overview.

Cite this clause

National Credit Regulator. (2015). Annexure B — Debt Review Assessment Guidelines, clause 7.1.9: Consumers may apply for subsidised school fees. Guideline 001/2015 (Debt Review Task Team Agreements 2010), p. 41.