IS HOME SCHOOL THE ANSWER?

MOMS SPEAK: AS WELL AS BEING SAFER DURING PANDEMIC, IT’S FREE

Department of basic education gives parents guidelines of what is expected.

When Lumari Coetzee opted for home schooling for her three children four years ago, it did not occur to her that it would one day prove to be potentially life-saving – with the advent of Covid-19.

When she separated from her husband, she decided to take her children out of private schools and teach them herself, at home and at their own pace.

“It has since become one of the pivotal roles I have played in the lives of my children, particularly now that there is Covid-19.

“My children have more time to spend on subjects they are struggling with and less time on the clutter of formal schooling,” she said.

Her son, 19-year-old Juvan Holder, is doing A levels for university entry abroad. Her daughter Millena,17, is on A S level, which combines Grades 11 and 12 and must be completed in 24-months.

Lucan, 11, is on stage 7, which is equivalent to Grade 7.

“It was costly to keep them at private schools. It took a lot of research for available resources and I found my way.

“It has been great for them because now that home schooling is the safest with Covid-19, there was no transition for them,” she said.

Coetzee said home schooling required a structured approach and discipline, but it cost almost nothing. She said the internet was flooded with home schooling resources that one could adapt to their own schedule and several private schools were increasingly offering digital curriculums.

“The most important step before taking any decision is to research because children and their needs are different,” Coetzee said.

“I am a single mother with no support, but I have managed to put three children through home schooling because of the available resources that help me with a framework and guidance.”

For Coetzee, home schooling has not only been a productive and independent route, but it has allowed her to spend more time with her children.

It had also instilled a sense of responsibility in her to be involved in the planning of their syllabuses.

She said that although home schooling was uncommon and only became a buzz word in the wake of Covid-19, there was a thriving community and support groups of people who are teaching their children.

Jacqui Bester, 39, has schooled her five children at home for a year now. She said it was a balancing act for a working parent, but with a clear structure it soon became routine.

“It was stressful, overwhelming at first. I had to read up a lot.

“The department of basic education gives you a guideline of what is expected but you can pretty much choose what you want to do and how,” she said.

According to the department, the home education programme is an alternative to attending public or independent schools in which the parent of a pupil of compulsory schoolgoing age can provide education for their own children at home.

The first step is to apply to the head of the provincial education department to register the child for home education, which is free.

The lessons offered to children must fall 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).

Once a child has been registered for home education, the parent must keep a record of attendance, a portfolio of the child’s work, up-to-date records of the child’s progress and a portfolio of the educational support given to the child.

Evidence of continuous assessment of the child’s work, evidence of the assessment and/or an examination at the end of each year are also required.

It has been great for them because now that home schooling is the safest with Covid-19, there was no transition for them.

Lumari Coetzee Home schooling parent