Ministry condemns N$50 re-registration fee
• ‘Contentious, controversial’ fee not authorised
Despite the ministry and regional directorate not being on board, some Rehoboth schools want parents to pay N$50 to re-register their children for the 2024 school year.
Education ministry executive director Sanet Steenkamp has clarified that there is no directive from the ministry for parents in Rehoboth to pay a N$50 registration fee for the 2024 academic year. She, however, added that they are aware that some schools have requested a fee for administration purposes.
Steenkamp responded to a letter some Rehoboth schools issued to parents, notifying them that they have to re-register their children for primary school for the 2024 school year.
“There was a decision made during our parents meeting for the second semester that primary schools in the ‘Oanob circuit’ are going to re-register learners for 2024 for N$50. This is to establish the figures of 2024. We request you therefore to fill in the form and send it back to the school. This receipt must reach the school before or on 1 December,” the letter read.
Steenkamp said the initiative is not supported by the ministry.
“There has been no directive in this regard. This remains a very contentious and controversial issue of school asking for [N$50 for] registration. This is basically to cover administrative costs. If you look at the amount schools pay on photocopies and ink, it is humongous. However, it is not supported officially by the ministry. I do not know where this decision was taken,” she said.
She encouraged parents to have this dialogue at school level, and referred questions to the Hardap regional education directorate.
Not condoned
Deputy director of education in the Hardap Region Assumpta Kaoseb said they have not yet seen the new notice, but added that they reprimanded schools last year when a similar letter was sent out.
"We understand why they do it, but we do not condone it. Something similar happened last year and we reprimanded the schools.
“This limits the access to education and we don't want that," she said.
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Steenkamp responded to a letter some Rehoboth schools issued to parents, notifying them that they have to re-register their children for primary school for the 2024 school year.
“There was a decision made during our parents meeting for the second semester that primary schools in the ‘Oanob circuit’ are going to re-register learners for 2024 for N$50. This is to establish the figures of 2024. We request you therefore to fill in the form and send it back to the school. This receipt must reach the school before or on 1 December,” the letter read.
Steenkamp said the initiative is not supported by the ministry.
“There has been no directive in this regard. This remains a very contentious and controversial issue of school asking for [N$50 for] registration. This is basically to cover administrative costs. If you look at the amount schools pay on photocopies and ink, it is humongous. However, it is not supported officially by the ministry. I do not know where this decision was taken,” she said.
She encouraged parents to have this dialogue at school level, and referred questions to the Hardap regional education directorate.
Not condoned
Deputy director of education in the Hardap Region Assumpta Kaoseb said they have not yet seen the new notice, but added that they reprimanded schools last year when a similar letter was sent out.
"We understand why they do it, but we do not condone it. Something similar happened last year and we reprimanded the schools.
“This limits the access to education and we don't want that," she said.
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