Crippling school fees spark interest in government schooling

ELIANA CLINE

While they would ordinarily shy away from a government school, believing the quality of education was not acceptable, they have found a school which they feel might well suit them. It is apparently a “high quality, extremely affordable government option” that would certainly keep the wolf from the door.

This trailblazing group of mothers initiated a discussion on the feasibility of Jewish children going to Summerwood Primary School, which is in Percelia, right in their area.

Tanya Lowenstein, a mother of four, initiated the exploration into Summerwood Primary School (previously Fairmount Primary), which began when she realised that she lives next door to an entire school community that she knows nothing about.

“Summerwood School is one road away from my home. For months, a friend of mine who teaches there, invited me to come and see what a wonderful school it is. Finally, I went to visit and my mind opened to the possibilities.

“It was not what I expected from a public school – it was a complete eye-opener. The school is clean and well maintained, the staff were very friendly and willing and each child I greeted, greeted me with a smile and said good morning! I then realised that it could be a real option for parents who are under huge financial pressure to pay private school fees and were the right fit for the school.”

She initiated an invitation to join the meeting with Summerwood School leadership. It resulted in around 60 parents showing interest and strong support for the idea. The conversation highlighted the incredible pressure Jewish parents face to educate their children.

“My husband and I both work full-time. We have well-paying jobs, and have good professions. But school fees are a huge burden and I don’t always know where the money is going to,” says a mother of three.

The group of seven parents who attended the recent meeting with the school, said while they would be happy for their children to learn Jewish studies after school, a big concern was class sizes. With class sizes averaging at 36, it is a significant increase for those used to the limited sizes of private school classes.

Pam Kantor, a seasoned educator who teaches Afrikaans and social science at Summerwood, says that her experience has been overwhelmingly positive despite the large class size. The CAPS curriculum offered is identical to that offered in private schools.

Kantor admits that the average class size of 36 learners demands that teachers apply themselves and demand disciplined behaviour.

“We make it work. Some teachers come in at 07:00 and offer extra lessons. We do what we can, and we get the results. We are on top of things.

“Our learners want to learn, they want to be challenged, they want to be something”, she says. “We look at the child holistically – we offer drama, sports and many other activities. There are so many talented learners, they are amazing.”

The nominal fees (when compared to private school fees) mean that many parents doubt the level of education their child will receive.

Deputy Principal Mr David Govender emphasises that one must not equate low school fees with low quality education or a poorly maintained school grounds.

“Our biggest challenge is that English is a second language to the vast majority of our learners. Still, our learners excel and we push them. We ranked second in the entire district for grade 3 drama, and first prize in EMS.

“A few of our students received full academic scholarships to the most elite private schools – including the likes of St John and Maritz Brothers.”

Govender says that the staff is committed to running an exemplary educational institution despite the school’s meagre budget. While staff salaries are funded by the Department of Education, the school is responsible for funding everything else required. Monies required for maintenance, improvements, utility bills, equipment, activities and anything extra, is funded primarily by school fees.

“Our annual school fees are R4 500 per learner. We used to be a Model C school. We work very hard to keep the school fees low, so our students can afford our fees. We are very careful about how we spend the money we have; we save, we plan accordingly.

“A significant percentage of parents don’t pay their school fees and we have to employ debt collectors. R10 000 unpaid school fees won’t impact a private school, but for us that’s a significant amount of money or our school.”

If white learners would join the school, there would be a period of transition for both the learners and the parent body, according to the leadership of the school. The 100 per cent black student body would change, but with time, the learners would integrate and all would gain tremendously.

“Our learners come from a diverse range of backgrounds. Our parent body includes domestic workers, bankers, nurses and engineers. Our school has a huge waiting list because we have a reputation of excellence.

“The perception out there is that when your learners come from the townships, the township is coming from the school. That’s not the case – we are strict about manners and behaviour. We have all the regular challenges any school faces – bullying, not doing homework, but we know about it and deal with it.”

The intention of this initiative is not to attract learners from local Jewish day schools and Govender is adamant that the school does not actively recruit from any private schools. He does say, however, the school would be delighted to have a more socially inclusive and cohesive student body, representing all races and religions.

“We are not a private school, and we can’t and don’t want to compete with private schools. However, we do want people to know that we are a high-quality public school, should parents be interested. We will do our best to accommodate any learners and their needs, including Jewish students if they choose to attend.”

While it is doubtful that the coming years will see masses of Jewish children entering public schools, the hope is that these school will become an accepted alternative for those who choose.

Lowenstein says that engaging with the school reinforced her deep commitment to be an active social citizen and to raise children who gain the benefits of interacting with people of all backgrounds.

“A government school definitely can be a viable option for some Jewish parents, and those who are open to it can benefit on many levels. An affordable education is a possibility, and people should explore all options,” she said.