By Thapelo Molefe
Public school fees are rising faster than inflation, adding to the financial pressure on households already struggling with the rising cost of essential goods and services, according to the Competition Commission’s latest Cost of Living Report.
The commission found that public primary school fees increased by 6% between 2025 and 2026, while public secondary school fees rose by 5.7%. Over the same period, headline inflation increased by 3.8%.
The increases mean school fees are rising at more than one-and-a-half times the overall inflation rate for primary schools and significantly faster than inflation for secondary schools.
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The commission said the trend was concerning because education is an essential household expense and the increases come at a time when families are also dealing with higher transport, electricity and water costs.
“It is concerning that school fees are now outpacing headline inflation,” the commission said.
The report found that the pressure becomes even more pronounced over the longer term.
Between January 2020 and July 2026, public primary school fees increased by 46%, while public secondary school fees increased by 51%. Headline inflation rose by about 36% over the same period.
“The above inflation increases for school fees suggest that schools continue to face increasing expenditure pressures arising from municipal service charges, infrastructure maintenance and other operational costs,” the commission said.
The report said the pressure was particularly relevant for fee-paying public schools, where governing bodies can use school fees to supplement government funding and cover operational and educational costs.
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