What sort of school do you want to send your child to? We have looked at public, private and Model C schools. But there are also a few well-established school curriculums or philosophies available in South Africa and it is wise to explore each one in order to find a system that suits your child. Here is a breakdown of the common kinds of schooling systems available to you in South Africa:
Choosing your child’s first school can seem like a daunting process, but a lot of it is knowing what you want and what is best for your child. Your first step is to search for a school in your chosen area on www.schoolguide.co.za. Our team has put together this simple guide to help you.
You are no longer the only influence on your teen's life and you have to accept that bravely! Your child's first high school teacher will (hopefully) be the one to lay down the ground rules for life at the school. The school will play a large part in influencing and impacting their self-esteem and their career as a young student, writes Sandra Buckingham.
The South African education system is made up of three different types of schools: independent or private; public or government; and Model C schools. Let’s look at the 3 models.
The South African government's current education policy for pre-primary schooling in South Africa is termed 'ECD' or Early Childhood Development, which covers children from birth until 7 years of age. These programs include a wide range of services directed at helping families and communities from all provinces and from every background provide an education for their children.
Without a doubt, your involvement with your child's school will most certainly benefit you, your child and the school! You are the most influential factor in your child's life and they will take their cues from you when dealing with school and the community they're part of. Knowing what is happening and helping out at the school will make you a valuable resource for your school and will also enable you to observe and participate in the changes and policies the school will have.
Homeschooling is exactly that: teaching kids a curriculum at home and not at a school. You can either teach your kids yourself, join an established small group or register them at a homeschool-style school.Homeschooling is recognized by the Department of Basic Education in South Africa as a legal practice and you can apply to the head of your province's education department to register your children for the option to homeschool.
Every Pre-Primary school teacher will admit that one of the most important aspects of a young child's education is playtime. It is baffling to think that there are parents out there who are wholly concerned with academic achievement and believe that even 2 hours of playtime at school is more than enough. This is most certainly not true! Playtime is an integral part of a child's development and can benefit them in a myriad of ways.
You are trusting the school to look after your child. You need to know that they will be safe, secure and well cared for in that environment. Here's a helpful checklist we've compiled to help you put your mind at ease:
In brief we give you an overview of Annual National Assessments (ANA), National Senior Certificates (NSC) and Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS).
From 2012 the two National Curriculum Statements for Grades R-9 and Grades 10-12 respectively, are combined in a single document and will simply be known as the National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12. The National Curriculum Statement for Grades R-12 builds on the previous curriculum but also updates it and aims to provide clearer specification of what is to be taught and learnt on a term-by-term basis.
In September 2013 over 7 million learners in Grades 1 - 6 and Grade 9 in South Africa were assessed to determine their levels of competency in Literacy and Numeracy. This was the third time since 2011 that an assessment of this magnitude has been conducted under the umbrella of the Annual National Assessment (ANA), an initiative of the Department of Education (DBE) to improve the quality of performance in the system.
Schooling 2025 is the government's long-term plan for the basic education sector which will allow for the monitoring of progress against a set of measurable indicators covering all aspects of basic education including amongst others, enrolments and retention of learners, teachers, infrastructure, school funding, learner well-being and school safety, mass literacy and educational quality
The National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12 gives expression to the knowledge, skills and values worth learning in South African schools. This curriculum aims to ensure that children acquire and apply knowledge and skills in ways that are meaningful to their own lives. In this regard, the curriculum promotes knowledge in local contexts, while being sensitive to global imperatives.
Starting a new school is definitely a big deal, and the anxiety of being left alone in a strange environment can be very stressful for your child. They may have some separation anxiety and you need to know how to handle it, writes Sandra Buckingham.
Storytelling is as old as time. From Adam and Eve to the Trojan War, the history of human civilization rests in the stories our ancestors used to tell, perhaps around a fire, so many thousands of years ago. The advantages of reading or telling a story to your young child are many, and not only educationally, but also neurologically, psychologically, linguistically and socially. Here are seven reasons to start reading now!
Deciding which high school you are going to send your teen to is a big decision. This school will be your teen's home away from home so they need to be part of the decision. Here are some things to consider when you make your list:
Matric exams are over, you've survived the stress and angst of parenting an almost fully-grown teenager and not long now, they'll be leaving the roost to pursue a life of their own. You've decided mutually that taking a year off to take a break from studying and discovering what is out there is a good idea. Where do you start?
When your child reaches high school, they are at an extremely fragile, emotional, physical and social point in their lives. Along with having to contend with an ever-changing and complex curriculum, it may be a surprise to find that statistically, most parents decrease support of their child in their high school academic life. Sandra Buckingham gives some tips.