Gauteng’s public schools are facing a major financial blow after the provincial education department confirmed it will reduce subsidies to quintile-5 schools from R900 to R315 per learner starting in 2026.

Public schools in South Africa are divided into five quintiles based on the wealth of their surrounding communities. Quintile 1 schools serve the poorest communities and are "no-fee" schools, while quintile 5 schools serve the least poor communities and are fee-paying, receiving less government funding per learner.

The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) condemned the decision as: “unjust and unacceptable,” warning that it will hit Afrikaans-language schools particularly hard. Most of these institutions have already finalised their 2026 budgets and informed parents of next year’s fees, leaving them little time to absorb the shortfall.

According to the party, the funding reduction could also coincide with a loss of departmental teaching posts, while key operational expenses such as maintenance and learning materials remain unchanged. The FF+ said the decision was irresponsible and risked chaos in school planning, accusing the department of penalising schools that manage their finances efficiently.

The FF+ indicated that it plans to ask questions in the provincial legislature on why only quintile-5 schools were targeted, where the diverted funds will be allocated, and how an already-approved budget can be altered so late in the fiscal cycle.