The challenges of the new school year

It is always quite exciting when the new school year starts. To see all the children and teachers again and to hear about their holidays.

This year's excitement was dampened by the fact that a number of the children did not come back to school. The school insists that parents take responsibility for the choice of education for their children by paying school fees. 90% of parents pay a reduced fee based on their proven income. As most children come from townships removed from the village they can only get to school by bus.

The parents of the children not at school on that first day were far behind with paying the school and bus fees of 2014. Only when these are paid up could the children come back to school.

Unfortunately when the amount to pay has become to high it is impossible for the parents to pay it off with their low salaries. South African families have to spend 80% of their monthly income to pay of debts. These children are now enrolled in township school where parents do not have to pay school and bus fees.

Really sad to not have these lovely children anymore but the school cannot keep carrying the growing debts of the parents. The management resolved to raise funds for a bus fund so that the parents would not have to pay that part when choosing to have their child at the waldorf school. Please have a look at the needs and make a contribution.

THANK YOU,

Katleen