Unpaid fees to high schools means parents who do pay are subsidizing those who don’t.

A survey of public schools shows parents owned more than $20 million in unpaid fees halfway through the academic year,

One of the schools at the lower end of the scale is Victor Harbor High who shows a debt level of about $235 per student.

The Secondary Principals Association of SA says unpaid fees means money has to come from other areas – perhaps staffing or it could mean a delay in replacing furniture or textbooks.