Abstract
M.Ed.
The period prior to the 1994 elections seem to have been characterised by disruptions of schools, more especially, schools in the black residential areas. Different demands were placed on the doorstep of the government of the day at different times. Among these was the demand that the government must offer free and compulsory education to all learners. This call as made by the masses that resisted the apartheid education, created an
impression that parents were no longer expected to pay for the education of their children. Already in 1943 the African National Congress (ANC) had called for free and compulsory education provided by the state (Kallaway, 1988:266). The state was expected to provide all resources thereby declaring education to be free. In instances where school fees was already paid by the parents this was demanded back by the learners from principals.
Principals who did not co-operate with the demand of school fees refund were pressurised to vacate the schools. Together with the expulsion of principals from schools crept in ineffectiveness and laissez-faire attitude of school leaders. The demand for school fees refund went hand in hand with the call for non-payment of examination fees.