The DA has written to the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Education MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, to insist that a circular be issued immediately instructing schools and educators to refrain from threatening to withhold learners’ Report Cards for any unlawful reasons.
The DA also urged parents to report this practice to their nearest KZN Department of Education (DoE) district office if they believe that their child’s school report card has been unlawfully withheld.
The appeal comes as the school academic year draws to a close later this week and as KZN’s schools prepare to issue learners report cards, but many are using this as leverage to make demands on parents and learners.
The DA has received numerous complaints from concerned parents, stating that certain schools are withholding their children’s report cards due to unpaid school fees. This practice is not only unjust, it is also illegal.
It is critical that schools adhere to this rule, which ensures that no learner is unjustly penalized for the financial circumstances of their parents.
While some schools claim that they are not withholding report cards – and are instead asking parents to personally collect them in order to discuss outstanding fees – such actions can still be seen as threatening and extortionist.
The DA encourages parents who are in a position to settle any outstanding fees to do so as soon as possible. However, it is essential that no learner be made to suffer due to their parents’ financial circumstances. No principal has the right to withhold a report card as a form of punishment or pressure.
Schools must not use the release of report cards as leverage to pressure parents into paying fees, particularly when learners’ academic rights are at stake. Schools are permitted to ask parents to collect the reports, but they cannot make this subject to the settlement of outstanding fees.
The withholding of report cards for any reason related to unpaid school fees is in violation of the South African Schools Act and the National Protocol of Assessment of 2011 and such complaints will be investigated thoroughly.
Should it be determined that schools are acting unlawfully, KZN’s Department of Education (DoE) must take appropriate steps to address the situation and hold those responsible accountable.
While the DA acknowledges that many schools face significant challenges in collecting fees, withholding a learner’s report card due to their parent’s financial circumstances amounts to discrimination and is unethical and illegal.
Denying report cards can also lead to learners feeling stigmatized, negatively influencing their motivation and engagement at school. It may also create tension between parents and school management, exacerbating the financial stress already experienced by families.
Moreover, denying learners the right to receive their academic results disrupts their ability to make informed decisions about their future educational path.
The DA is committed to ensuring that all learners receive their report cards as required, and that no child is discriminated against based on their family’s financial situation