Why Register for Home Education?

For a learner of compulsory school age (Grade R to Grade 9), the South African Schools Act requires a parent who chooses home education to apply for registration. This registration gives the learner an exemption from the compulsory school attendance law; it is the way home schoolers comply with the law.

What if you do not register?

Without registration, your homeschooled child will not have that statutory exemption. A provincial education department could investigate why your child is not attending school or registered for homeschooling, and prosecution is legally possible. It is not automatic, and prosecution is unlikely in practice. The Department of Basic Education's published guidelines encourage provincial departments to help families register rather than move straight to prosecution. Some departments, however, do not consistently follow instructions from the national department.

A much more common source of conflict with the state is child welfare investigations. When social workers ask about a homeschooled child’s education, the first document they request is a registration certificate. Home-educating families are increasingly being reported to authorities by relatives, friends, neighbours and even landlords or tenants, or during any conflict situation.

In some provinces, registration is required to join provincial or school sports teams. Even where the rules do not require it, the issue may still be raised by coaches or administrators when a home-educated learner is considered for a team. Especially where a jealous parent may want to see a homeschooled athlete removed from a team or blocked from joining.

Keep Your Child's options open

Schools are asking for proof of registration and assessment records when admitting learners. Public and even independent schools are placing learners in the last grade for which they have proof of registration. While public schools have to admit learners in certain circumstances and may not use admission tests, the time required to prove the child's grade level can mean that school places have been filled before home schoolers can be placed.

A record of having completed Grade 9 can also matter in later life: current regulations require an official document from the Head of Department confirming that a home-educated learner has reached the required Grade 9 level to enter Grade 10 and study towards the SA matric. Even those not following this National Senior Certificate route may find that there are benefits to getting this document. Proof of Grade 9 or an equivalent is the minimum qualification to enter a number of further academic, technical or vocational opportunities.

While alternative Matric options are very attractive, they do have a boom-or-bust quality. If your child achieves the qualification - Boom, it can open a number of doors especially to university, but if not, because these qualifications are not registered in South Africa, your child doesn't have an SA qualification like the Grade 9 - Bust. Having a Grade 9 record gives your child more options if plans change.

Making THE SCHOOLS ACT WORK For YOu

By not registering you could find the Schools Act working against you. If you are registered then the Schools Act can work for you.

60-Days deemed approved: If a department does not respond to an application within 60 days, the application is deemed approved, provided you can produce proof that it was submitted. Keep that proof safe.

Cancellation Protections: If a provincial department wants to cancel your registration, the Act requires a formal process, including written reasons, an opportunity for the parent to make representations and discuss the proposed decision, and written reasons for the final decision. If a department ignores these safeguards, the parent has a strong basis to challenge the decision in court.

Conclusion

Registration helps make the Schools Act work for you. It gives your child an exemption from compulsory school attendance, creates a record that can help when questions arise about welfare, sport or school admission, and keeps future academic options open. The Act also gives you protections: an application is deemed approved if the department does not respond within 60 days, and registration may only be cancelled through a formal process.

This article provides general legal information, not legal advice. It does not address every family’s circumstances. For advice about a specific situation, consult a qualified legal professional.