Curro is a popular school in South Africa, and parents were discussing the fees after the school communicated its rates for 2024

The South African private topped Twitter trends as many were complaining that the parents are always taken aback by how much they have to pay each year

What is Curro?

Curro is a private school franchise in South Africa. They have 176 locations as of 2022 in most big towns in Gauteng and other provinces. The school promises IEB and the use of tablets in the classroom.

How much is private school education in South Africa?

A document of Curro’s 2024 school fees was viral on Twitter. Some parents were complaining about the school fees that start from R50,000 per year for Grade R to more than R80 000 per year for senior grades.

These are small numbers when compared to the nine of the most expensive in South Africa which cost no less than R300,000 per year according to BusinessTech.

While Curro is not the most expensive school in South Africa it makes the list if considered in the context of how much most people earn. The country’s middle class is an elusive concept as researchers have not settled on how to determine them.

According to BusinesTech, most experts settled on R20 000 per month as middle class. In 2018, the average ‘Upper-middle class’ group comprised households earning R40 000–R75 000 per month, 800 000 households (4% of SA), according to The South African Consumer Landscape.

Why is Curro getting attention?

 With St Mary’s in Waverly, Bishops College in Cape Town and St Alban’s College in Pretoria all making the plus R300 000, one may wonder why Curro’s fees cause so much uproar. Considering that their fees can run up to R7 300 per month, the majority of South Africans would render it to be expensive. Many who counter that it is not expensive are forgetting the reality of money in South Africa.

People argue that when compared to other private schools, Curro is cheap. However, is it really when the most expensive are well above a quarter of a million rands?

Why private schools over public in South Africa?

In South Africa, public school students follow the NCS curriculum. Private school children for the IEB curriculum, which is oftentimes considered superior (internationally recognised by Ivy Leagues).

Many people see schools such as Curro as a way to move up in society by educating their children with the IEB.

Curro parents’ vocal fees complaints explained

Netizens were complaining that it seems parents with send their children to Curro want everyone to know. Looking at the fees and the reality of how much most people earn, it is no surprise that sending a child to a private school can be seen as a “flex “of sorts. And it is because very few can afford to. Consider how many wrote their IEB matric in 2022:

Writing for EWN, University of Johannesburg research fellow, Malaika Mahlatsi points out that in 2022 IEB had 12 580 candidates writing matric while NSC had 921 000. A jarring difference demonstrating just how few can afford to get their children through the private school system.

Private schools guarantee that more time will be poured into your child with better funding and a low teacher-to-learner ratio. Enrolling your child in one signifies that they are more likely to succeed and are set up for life.