As a family, we had intended to send Hamish to school, but the pandemic invaded and we fell into a very comfortable pattern of Homeschooling. Mid-way in his learning when he was completing the Grade R work at 3 years and started doing multiplication at 5 years old we had him tested and he has scored among the gifted percentage in his IQ test. Knowing that he would be bored at school, and knowing that we could offer a more comprehensive and personalised learning experience at home, we have opted for homeschooling.
In fact, more and more parents are opting for homeschooling.
However, many who would like to opt for home education or e-learning are deterred by the thought of having to apply to the education department, for an exemption to have their children homeschooled. This is actually not such a complicated process. Parents who would like to homeschool their children only need to apply online to the head of the Provincial Education Department..
How to apply to homeschool
The application can be made electronically, and parents need to submit the following documentation:
- Parent/s certified ID copy (In case of foreign nationals, certified copies of passport/ study permit/ work permit/ Asylum document is required )
- Last copy of school report (if the child was in school before)
- If the child is only starting school now, you must attach an immunisation card
- Weekly timetable which includes contact time per day
- Breakdown of terms per year (196 days per year)
- Learning programme – the curriculum you are using
- Certified copy of child’s birth certificate
The application process can take up to 30 days to be processed but learners are allowed to continue homeschooling during this period.
There is also no cost involved in registering your child with the Education Department.
Things to consider
In order to homeschool children, parents will need to ensure that they meet a number of requirements including that the lessons offered to the learners fall within the scope of the compulsory phases of education. (https://www.education.gov.za/
These phases are
- foundation phase for Grade 1-3,
- intermediate phase for Grade 4-6
- senior phase for Grade 7-9.
There is also a list of records that the parents need to keep as a portfolio of evidence which include:
- record of attendance
- portfolio of work, portfolio of the educational support given to the child
- evidence of the continuous assessment of the child’s work
- evidence of the assessment and/or examination at the end of each year
- and evidence at the end of Grade 3, 6 and 9, showing whether your child has achieved the outcomes for these grades.”
