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School Fees Exemption Calculator 2026

Under the South African Schools Act, parents who cannot afford school fees may apply for a partial or full exemption. Use this calculator to estimate your exemption based on your household income and annual school fees.

How the Exemption Works

  • ✓ Full exemption: Your combined household income per child is equal to or less than the annual school fees
  • ✓ Partial exemption: Your income per child is between 1 and 10 times the annual fees
  • ✓ No exemption: Your income per child is more than 10 times the annual school fees
  • ✓ No-Fee schools have no fees at all — no application needed

Calculate Your Exemption

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Include all income sources: salary, grants, rental income. Enter the total annual amount.

How to Apply for a School Fees Exemption

  1. 1Ask the school office for the school fees exemption application form (or request it from the school governing body chairperson).
  2. 2Complete the form and attach proof of all household income (payslips, SASSA grant letter, bank statements or an affidavit if unemployed).
  3. 3Submit the completed application to the school governing body (SGB) by the deadline (usually before March each year).
  4. 4The SGB will review your application and notify you of the decision within a reasonable time.
  5. 5If you disagree with the SGB decision, you can appeal to the provincial Department of Education.

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