Western Cape schools offered financial relief

More than 400 primary schools in the Western Cape may scrap school fees by the first of May if they opt for the no fee status. Provincial Education MEC Cameron Dugmore says in a statement that while the new law would only come into effect next year, his department had the necessary funds to make the offer to schools immediately. This could benefit more than 146-thousand students in public schools or nearly sixteen percent of the total. The offer was in line with new education legislation to scrap fees in poor schools. Parents of children attending participating schools would not have to pay fees or apply for exemption. Students would also be supplied with support materials.