‘Registering for homeschooling a lengthy process’
PARENTS in the Northern Cape who do not want their children to return to school out of concern for their safety can register for homeschooling – but this is not likely to be an easy process.
Registration for homeschooling must be done tharough the Head of Department’s Office and is, according to the Northern Cape Department of Education, at the parents’ own risk.
The MEC for Education, Mac Jack, said during a media briefing yesterday that he was not able to give a time frame on how long the application process for homeschooling would take.
The department’s district director general, Dr Michelle Ismael, urged parents to rather send their children back to school, adding that registration for homeschooling was a lengthy process.
The department announced yesterday that the date for the reopening of schools in the Northern Cape had been moved to June 8 and outlined the measures put in place to prepare for the remainder of the academic year.
The MEC stated that parents who are uncomfortable with sending their children back to school would not be forced to do so.
He warned that parents who applied for homeschooling would not be allowed to school other people’s children as well.
“Parents may apply only for their own children to be home educated. This process is not for parents or people who intend to homeschool other people’s children at home. This is a process for independent schools with different policy directives,” said Jack. “In other words, I cannot apply to teach my brother’s child. I must arrange to teach my own kids.”
“The home education that you can offer your child must also be within the scope of the following compulsory phases of education: Foundation Phase (Grades 1-3), Intermediate Phase (Grades 4-6), and Senior Phase (Grades 7-9),” explained Jack.
The MEC indicated that the department was trying its best to create a safe environment for every person.
“Don’t treat us as irresponsible,” he said. He went on to say that there were some schools that were ready to start operating already.
Ismael meanwhile explained that before a homeschooling application was approved by the HOD, a specific process had to be followed, including checks and balances, recommendations and submissions.
The home environment, including the space where the child will be taught, will also need to be assessed before approval can be granted.
“We are unable to guarantee how long this process will take, and whether your child will be guaranteed space at the school he currently attends,” said Ismael.
“Remember, when you apply for homeschooling you will be deregistering your child from a public school. This means you have to re-register the child from scratch the following year.”
She said that those parents who planned to do homeschooling in groups would have to apply as an independent school.
The department meanwhile distanced itself from decisions to exempt parents from paying school fees if they decide to homeschool their children, adding that this was up to school governing bodies to decide.