According to Business Day, this was one of the shocking findings of research conducted by TPN Credit Bureau into parents’ ability to pay fees.

Michelle Dickens, CEO of TPN Credit Bureau, said that while bad debt was an issue before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, this has been worsened by loss of or reduced income.

Before the pandemic, 75% of parents were able to pay their school fees but during the pandemic in 2020 only 45% had the ability to pay school fees, said Dickens.

She said that of the 60% of parents who were in good standing financially, 52% paid school fees on time.

Dickens predicted a spike in applications for fee exemptions from parents this year in the wake of the growing unemployment rate.

Moneyweb