According to StatsSA, school fees are the largest component of domestic education expenditure in South Africa.
The latest education report from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) revealed that almost seven in 10 school-going children in South Africa do not pay tuition fees, underscoring the far-reaching impact of the country's no-fee schooling policy.
According to the report, 65.7% of individuals aged 5 and above attending educational institutions in 2024 did not pay for tuition, while 34.3% did.
Huge decline in the number of fee paying students
The report reflects a dramatic change over the past two decades. In 2002, almost all students (99.6%) paid tuition fees. In contrast, just over a third paid fees in 2024.
Stats SA attributes this sharp decline mainly to the introduction of the no-fee school policy in 2007, which expanded access to free basic education.
“By 2010, the percentage of fee-paying students had already fallen by more than half, indicating the substantial impact of the policy,” the report said.
School fees still the biggest household cost
For those who pay, the report emphasizes that school fees remain the largest component of household education expenditure.
“These charges have consistently increased at a rate greater than headline inflation,” it said.
The report warns that the rising costs of education pose “a significant challenge with implications for students, families and educational institutions worldwide”.
It says inflation affects tuition more than tuition.
“The impact of inflation goes beyond tuition, affecting the affordability of housing, food, and essential learning materials.”
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Money still hinders appearance
While more students benefit from fee-free schools, financial barriers remain the biggest barrier to education, keeping thousands out of classes.
This is especially true for students from low-income families and marginalized communities.
In 2024, 29.5% of individuals aged 5–24 who were not attending an educational institution cited “not having money for fees” as the reason. This is slightly less than the 30.5% recorded in 2015.
Provincial data show significant disparities. In Gauteng, 42% of those who did not attend in 2024 cited a lack of money for fees, up from 37.6% in 2015.
Nationally, the majority of those who did not go to school due to lack of money for fees have completed Class 12. In 2024, 1,101,128 individuals in this category had matric as their highest qualification, which is 72.8% of the total.
Other factors of not having schooling
Beyond financial constraints and employment, the data shows that a combination of academic, institutional, and household pressures continue to shape school non-attendance patterns.
In 2024, 4.2% of individuals aged 5–24 who were not attending school cited family commitments, such as child care responsibilities, suggesting that caregiving roles within households still impede educational participation for a notable minority.
Academic performance also remained a hindrance, with 9.8% reporting that they were “unable to perform in school or failed exams”.
This points to underlying challenges related to learning support, progression policies and potential frustration following repeated academic failures.
Institutional access barriers are equally visible. Another 6.8% indicated that they were “not accepted for enrollment”, reflecting capacity limitations or administrative barriers in the schooling system.
Additionally, 10.7% fell under “other reasons”, indicating multiple unclassified or complex factors influencing non-attendance.
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