The implementation of the 'no-fee' school policy in selected primary schools in Limpopo

Abstract

South Africa began with the ‘no-fee’ school policy (NFSP) implementation on 01 January 2007. The policy abolished mandatory school fees in public ordinary schools to make basic education available to poor learners in the country. However, critics argued that the NFSP implementation made poor schools poorer and needed researched. This prompted an exploration on “No-fee schools’ inability to address the needs of the poor in Limpopo” The researcher randomly sampled ten ‘no-fee’ primary schools for the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and documentation. Interviewees were principals, treasurers and chairpersons of school governing bodies from the schools studied. The collected data were analysed through inductive techniques. The study discovered that the no-fee schools were unable to address the needs of the poor in Limpopo. The study concluded with recommendations for empowering no-fee schools on addressing the needs of the poor in Limpopo and for topics on future research.