The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has approved applications from 419 schools to be registered as "no fee" schools.

This means that parents of 146 367 learners no longer have to pay school fees for their children in the province. The measure took effect from 1 May 2006.

All but one of the 420 schools invited to apply for "no fee" status accepted the invitation. The exception is Buffeljagsrivier Primary School on the Overberg.

President Thabo Mbeki has signed the Education Laws Amendment Act 24 of 2005 on 26 January this year (2006) to allow the national Minister of Education to identify categories of schools that may not charge school fees.

The Education Laws Amendment Act comes into effect from 1 January 2007. Provinces may invite schools to apply for "no fee" status this year on a voluntary basis, depending on funds available to provide additional support.

A WCED team held meetings with eligible schools in all parts of the province to explain the process involved in becoming a "no fee" school.

The department asked schools to submit their applications by the end of April, and finalised the list during the first week of May.

The WCED has allocated R29.5-million to provide additional support for these schools in 2006/07. The schools are among the poorest in the province.

The learners who are benefiting from the initial roll-out of this policy in the Western Cape represent about 15.9% of the learners in the province.