Free State principal suspended for denying pupil to write exams over unpaid fees

The Free State Department of Education has suspended a school principal following an incident where a Grade 12 pupil was denied the chance to write her exam. Selelekela Secondary School, located in Qwa-Qwa, was involved in the controversy. On Friday, 23 October, the department suspended the principal, who is also the chief invigilator, pending an investigation into the allegations.

Deputy principal and new chief invigilator, appointed following the suspension, stated that the affected learner has been offered psychosocial support and will continue to write the remaining papers. The department is preparing an application to Umalusi, the country's official Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, requesting a concession for the missed English paper.

Umalusi, which oversees education standards for schools, TVET colleges, and adult learning centers, will receive the application through the Department of Basic Education. The province is hoping to secure the concession instead of forcing the pupil to retake the exam in June 2027. The incident has raised concerns about schools denying learners access to examination rooms due to unpaid fees, a violation of the South African Schools Act, which prohibits public schools from denying learners education based on unpaid fees.