Apply to the IEB for a duplicate matric certificate

Hi All No matter what the parent signed the CHILD can demand the results and certificate,as he/she is a minor its the adults who have to solve the Fee problem!Both children should write the SGB and request their results failing which the SGB should be taken to court for their UNCONSTITUTIONAL behaviour!

Pay. If you can't afford private school fees, don't put him in it, then put him ina public school. Yees please man.

Why keep sending your child to the school, a private school nogal, when you know you cannot afford to pay the fees? This is a criminal as going into a department store and taking clothes that you do not intend paying for.

Pay up - we work to educate , feed and cloth ourselves and kids. make every effort to pay up even if you have to downgrade on cars or cellphones.

Seriously Lisa, you have willingly committed a criminal offence over an extended period of time as you "have Rolls Royce taste, but only beer money" and feel that the small matter of your finances should be overlooked??? If you owned a shop and I came in and bought R100k of goods and took them while refusing to pay, would YOU allow that? You have a very bad attitude and no moral compass whatsoever. We all make the necessary sacrifices to live according to our means, you should do the same.

I feel that at this stage the holding back of the certificate is doing harm to the child. If the school is running a "business", go the legal route to recover the fees. I do agree with the comment that people should live to their means but let's be honest, how good is the education out there for public schools?

It is very easy to try to blame someone in a situation such as this, but one must remain level-headed and look at all the facts. As the Chairman of a private school and as a parent of two children that have gone the private school route, I have first hand knowledge of how expensive such a school is, but at the same time, I also know the financial constraints they operate under, and therefore why it is esential to spend every penny received, only after very careful consideration. I have tried to see both sides of the article, as I "wear both caps", namely that of Chairman and that of parent. But, to get back to the matter at hand: Any school that withholds a Matric Certificate, and uses unpaid fees to leverage outstanding money, is actually putting themselves into an awkward position, which I am lead to believe may be illegal. As has been said by a previous correspondent, unpaid school fees are a matter between the school and the parents, and the scholar should not be prejudiced, as a result of this. But having said this, there are two further points I need to make: 1) If your child is in a private school, and you cannot afford to pay the relevant fees, then approach the school in question. 1) You may be able to reach a financial agreement with them, or 2) you might be offered a reduced fee (in the form of a bursary or partial bursary, which they do hand out to exceptional scholars) or 3) you may have to decide to move the child to a more affordable educational institution. However, you should not allow the fees to escalate, as this is not fair to the school, and definitely not in line with the contract that exists between yourself and them. Of course, the private schools also have a responsibility to bear. They should keep a very tight reign on all financial matters, and if anyone's school fees fall behind by more than a month or two, they should already be stepping in, to resolve the matter (either by means of financial assistance in the form of a bursary - and please, do not misquote me and think this is a given, as they are only given on merit, and only in certain circumstances - or else, in suggesting that another school might be a better option, before the debt gets out of control. It, most certainly, should not be allowed to escalate to R100 00-00. I hope this can be resolved in a manner beneficial to all. I am sure both parties have been hurt (one financially, and the other academically), and one would like to believe that an ammicable solution can be reached.

I don't understand why you would put your children through this trauma by placing them in a private school knowing you could not afford it. I understand you want better education for them but if you cannot afford it, don't do it! Your children are now the ones who suffer.

Seriously? A private school but you cannot pay? Next you'll want somebody to help you pay for your Porche that can't afford!

Pay, its the right thing to do.

I agre, f you want the exceptional sevice, you pay the fees. But.....the school cannot withhold the results, but they can withhold the certificate. The child can obtain a computer printout of the results, but not the certificate containing the school's name.

How about you actually pay the fees. If you can't afford the private school then send your child to a public school. I can't believe you are actually expecting the school to provide a matric certificate or any documentation for that matter if you haven't held up your end of the bargain. And this Phillipa Tucker is just as stupid for actually suggesting that you should try and get out of this muckup instead of telling you to pay your way. You're pathetic!

How the hell does a person amass outstanding school fees to the tune of R100k?? Why didn't the school tell her to remove the kids long ago?

You say that your husband works but nothing about you working. I assume that this means that you are a housewife. If so, maybe you should also consider getting a job. In this day and age dual income is so important especially if you have certain lifestyle expectations. If you not willing to move you child to a public school, then speak to the school about a payment arrangement and maybe find other sources of additional income. Revise your expenses and see where you can cut out on these. suggestion are opt for a cheaper car, cut down on luxury goods, do your shopping at a checkers instead of a woolworths, etc.

Go to department of education and apply for a copy of the certificate. AND PAY!!!

This is the same attitude happening in Model C schools, You get parents cutting down to basic's so their kids can go to school and then have to pay for those kids who's parent's don't care to pay at all. Live within your means, we would all love to live the life of the rich and famous. They should name and shame these PARENTS.

Taking profit margins into account, let's assume the school already spent in the region of R70 000 on your family's behalf. Let's assume you are not the only parents in arrears. I would be sincerely grateful to the school for still delivering a service to me. If you are not employed, how about offering to work back some of the debt to the school, even if it involves manual labour ? I think withholding the certificate is entirely fair, given that a service has been delivered, and not paid for. You are in breach of contract, and expecting something that you did not pay for. Would your husband, or you, be willing to work for months without payment ? Why must the school be willing to do so ? The school has already gone the extra mile for you, why not go the extra mile for them ? The school is a business, not a charity.

Go seek Debt review counselling, and get them to help you work out a revised payment plan to the school. If you are stuggling with this, its likely you are living flash too and probably in trouble there also so debt counselling should be the very next thing you do today. Oh, and move your kid to a governmental institution and stop worrying what the Jones will think of you, instead of accruing more debt thought the school. If this gets any worse you only have yourself to blame and can count yourself as stupid.

Dear Lisa, I realize there are difficulties within our society - we want the best for our childern and want them to become so much more. Everyone wants that but please consider moving your child and discussing with the school about a repayment plan - There are incredible teachers around Gauteng in average schools - its the teachers that make the school - its up to you to teach your child about being honest and never to spend money that isnt yours - there are hard working teachers who teach your child now and its not fair for them. No freebies! Live like a normal family - no one NEEDS woolies or YDE, Chanel etc. Money is the issue - have that discussion!

If you can't afford private school tuition fees, why did you continue to send your kids there? If I were you I would eat humble pie, and try to come to some sort of settlement agreement with the school. You may also be able to setup a garnishing order that automatically removes money from your bank account on payday - maybe then they will release the certificate... If I were you I would take your other child out of the school and try and put him in a decent model C school. Why don't I live in a 7 bedroom mansion right on the beach? SIMPLE!!! I can't afford it!!!