5 days ago
Private school fee dispute: single father challenges private education payment policies
The father said the whole situation took a toll on his daughter
Image: File
A single father from Monte Vista is raising concerns about how private education institutions allegedly handle financially strained families and the emotional toll this can take on children.
Craig Nel explained how his daughter was excluded from her Curro Durbanville school in July, despite his consistent efforts to settle outstanding fees.
He hopes sharing his experience will shed light on the situation, especially for parents who are facing similar experiences.
Nel explained that he signed an Acknowledgement of Debt in January 2025 to settle R163,503 in arrears while keeping 2025 fees up to date.
'The school then set a hard deadline and later confirmed she would not be allowed back after the July holidays unless the 2024 arrears were fully settled.
'I took out an overdraft to pay the balance before the first day of the new term. My 2025 fees have always been up to date. The 2024 arrears are now settled. The unresolved issue is the lack of clarity on the procedure used to threaten to exclude her,' he said.
Nel criticised the school for failing to follow its own policies.
'No formal written termination notice in line with policy. First direct notice was a letter dated 30 June 2025 stating services would end from 1 July unless arrears were paid in full by 30 June… No meaningful time was provided to make other arrangements.'
Nel said his daughter has since returned to school and is coping well.
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'She has been back at school since the start of the term after the July holidays and is doing well. She has always been doing well in her school work. The issue now is about clarity on the school's termination policy and how it would be applied in future.
'I want to speak about this so that other parents can also know what to do should they end up in such a situation'
He is calling for fair and consistent procedures, reinstatement without punitive retrospective conditions, and agree on a realistic repayment plan recognising payments already made.
'I also need written clarity on what would happen if I lost my job or whether they would give the 90 days' notice of termination stated in their policies. At present, I have no certainty, as they do not appear to be applying this or any policy consistently, and I have not been told why it would not apply to me.'
While he has considered a government school, Nel said his daughter would prefer to finish in the same environment if stability can be guaranteed.
Curro Durbanville has issued a response regarding the matter.
'A learner will not be excluded where the terms of an agreed Acknowledgement of Debt (AOD) are adhered to. However, even where the terms of an AOD are not adhered to, Curro still takes into consideration the wellbeing of the learner as it did in this matter.'
According to Curro; 'The parent was an erratic payer who breached the AOD repayment terms.'
The school emphasised that the learner was never excluded without written notice and due process followed.
