The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has issued guidelines to schools on how to allocate funding provided in terms of national norms and standards

The department provided an outline on the guidelines in reply to questions put by the Cape Argus on 2 March 2009. The questions and answers were as follows:

1. Have many schools reported an increase in the non-payment of fees and has there been an increase in the number of requests for exemption or partial exemption (compared to last year)?

Our districts report that many fee-paying schools are finding it difficult to recover fees from parents and that this is placing school funds under strain. We do not know at this stage whether there has been an increase in non-payments or exemptions so far this year.

2. What is the yearly allocation schools receive for maintenance and repairs and what kind of maintenance work and repairs should be covered by this?

Schools receive allocations for general expenses from the department according to national norms and standards. The allocations vary, with schools in poor areas receiving more than schools in wealthier areas.

The department has distributed guidelines to schools on how to divide these allocations. Schools must spend about 50% on textbooks and related materials; 24% on municipal services; 20% for local purchases and 6% on maintenance, including minor repairs.

This means that a school with an annual norms and standards allocation of R500 000 should spend R250 000 of this amount on textbooks and related items; R120 000 on municipal services; R100 000 on local purchases; and R30 000 on maintenance and repairs.

Schools are responsible for minor repairs, for example, to fix broken windows, taps, basins, doors and similar items.

The Department of Public Works and Transport manages scheduled maintenance according to a priority list, while the WCED manages emergency repairs, for example, in the case of flooding, fires or serious cases of vandalism.

3. Are many schools requesting more money from the WCED to cover repairs and maintenance work? Is this because the non-payment of fees and an increase in learners being exempt from paying fees have left schools with very little or no money left for maintenance or repairs?

We do not have statistics at this stage on requests for additional support, but we are aware of many schools that are under financial strain because of the non-payment of school fees by some parents.

We support schools in their efforts to recover fees from parents who do not qualify for exemption.

4. Do you encourage schools to raise money for repairs and maintenance through fundraisers?

Yes, at the discretion of the school governing body.

5. Is it possible for a school to wait up to three years for scheduled maintenance to its roof?

Yes. The WCED works with the Department of Public Works and schools to draw up a priority list for scheduled maintenance years in advance. The department will spend about R284-million on 240 building maintenance projects over the next three years.