Reducing unpaid school fees: 7 practices
Published on 6 October 2026 · SuGes
Unpaid fees weigh on salaries, supplies and school projects. They rarely shrink through pressure alone — mostly through clarity and follow-up.
1. Clear terms from enrolment
Amount of each instalment, due dates, accepted payment methods: everything is written and given to the family at enrolment.
2. A numbered receipt for every payment
A numbered receipt protects the family and the school, and makes any dispute verifiable. No more "I already paid" without a record.
3. A report by class, every week
Management reviews the solvency report class by class: late payments are handled early instead of being discovered at year end.
4. Polite, regular reminders
A short message before each due date, then a reminder when late. Text messages are often the most effective channel with families.
5. Make the account visible to families
A family that sees online what it has paid and what remains pays more readily, and disputes less.
6. Written rules, applied to everyone
If the school decides to withhold a document (for example the online report card) until payment, the rule is written, announced and applied equally to all — within the law applicable in your country.
7. Controlled cash registers
Each cash register has its managers, and bank deposits are reconciled with deposit slips: the money collected really reaches the account.