Hidden Assets: South Africa's low-fee private schools
Contributor Name:
Erika Norwood
Private schooling for the poor is a global phenomenon which is gaining momentum in developing countries. Its emergence in South Africa, however, is not adequately recognized. The Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) conducted research in six areas across three provinces to analyze the low-cost private schools for the poor in the country.
The research involved ground level surveys to map all public and private schools, school visits and interviews of principals, teachers and parents and testing of Grade Six learners in private and public schools. Key conclusions include:
- South Africa has more low-fee, private schools than is commonly believed, and they are spread across the country;
- Low-fee private schools vary in quality, but regard quality as a priority and strive to improve to counter competition;
- Most low-fee schools were founded by entrepreneurs, in response to demand for better schools;
- Many regard low-fee private schools as unscrupulous, but parents prefer these schools to public schools when seeking better education for their children.