. A Head of Department must register an independent school if he or she is satisfied that the standards to be maintained by such a school will not be inferior to the standards in comparable public schools (SASA, Sect. 46(3)(a)). . The Member of the Executive Council may, out of funds appropriated by the provincial legislature for that purpose, grant a subsidy to an independent school (SASA, Sect. 48(2)). . If a condition subject to which a subsidy was granted has not been complied with, the Head of Department may terminate or reduce the subsidy from a date determined by him or her (SASA, Sect. 48(3)). . The owner of an independent school may appeal to the Member of the Executive Council against the termination or reduction of a subsidy to such an independent school (SASA, Sect. 48(5)). . A secondary school phase may be considered for subsidy if its final grade 12 pass rate is equal to or higher than the provincial average grade 12 pass rate for public schools in the prior year (NNSSF, Par 177(4)(a) as amended).