Independent schools are currently collating data on the effects of COVID-19 but preliminary findings show that about 80% of parents struggled to pay school fees.
It’s estimated that there are over 400,000 pupils at about 2,000 independent schools in the country.
The National Alliance of Independent Schools Association chairperson Mandla Mthembu says the Basic Education Department has acknowledged receipt of a letter sent on Friday in which they appealed for financial relief during the lockdown.
He says many parents failed to pay school fees after losing their jobs while others had taken salary cuts during the lockdown.
As a result, schools have had to retrench some staff members and dip into their reserves to pay for some of their expenses.