Homeschooling in South Africa is a program where a parent of a learner of compulsory school-going age provides education for their child at home. It is an alternative to attending public or independent schools. This definition is according to South Africa’s National Department of Basic Education.
In this article, I will describe to the Nigerian parent, how to apply for homeschooling in South Africa. I will give you a list of documents to submit along with your application, including records you must keep after your child has been registered.
How To Apply For Homeschooling Your Child In South Africa
You can homeschool your child from grades 1 – 9. These grades are split into the following compulsory phases: foundation phase (grades 1-3), intermediate phase (grades 4-6), and senior phase (grades 7-9).
Step 1: Apply to the Head of your Provincial Education Department to register your child for homeschooling
The application for homeschooling in South Africa is free. It also takes less than 30 days for your application to be processed by the Head of your Provincial Education Department. You will need to send them an application form and the following supporting documents below:
- Parent’s certified ID copy
- Last copy of school report provided if the child was in school before, but if the child is only starting school now, you must attach an immunization card
- A weekly timetable which includes contact time per day
- Breakdown of terms per year (196 days per year)
- Learning program
- Certified copy of child’s birth certificate
Step 2: After your child has been registered for homeschooling in South Africa, then, you must keep the following documents:
- Record of attendance
- Portfolio of the child’s work
- Up- to- date records of the child’s progress
- Portfolio of the educational support given to the child
- Evidence of the continuous assessment of the child’s work
- Proof of the assessment, and or examination at the end of each year
- Confirmation that shows whether your child has achieved the outcomes for grades 3,6 and 9, these grades.
Recap
In this article, I have explained to you how the application process for homeschooling in South Africa works. To apply, I described the documents needed to be submitted along with your application form. Meanwhile, I have also listed the records and documents you must keep after your child has been registered for homeschooling in South Africa. I hope this helps you. Please consider sharing this article.