A recent report by the Department of Basic Education's General Household Survey 2024: Focus on Schooling reveals that approximately 405,000 South African children did not attend an educational institution in 2024. This number represents hundreds of thousands of children whose education and future opportunities may be affected. The report highlights a significant challenge: ensuring that young people can continue learning when their circumstances make traditional schooling difficult or impossible.
There are various reasons why learners do not attend school, including financial pressure, family circumstances, relocation, health challenges, learning problems, or decreasing interest in their schoolwork. For some families, it can be difficult to secure a spot at a suitable school near their home. The demand for school placement in some provinces before the 2027 school year demonstrates the pressure on the system. In Gauteng, over 200,000 grade 1 and grade 8 applications were submitted by midday on August 5, with the number approaching half a million within days.
While high application numbers do not necessarily mean that learners will struggle to be placed, securing a spot is only the first step. What happens when circumstances change and traditional schooling no longer works for a learner or family? Louise Schoonwinkel, head commercial officer at Optimi, emphasizes that every learner needs a reliable way to continue their school career and complete matric. Alternative schooling options, such as homeschooling and online schooling, offer South African families different ways to continue their children's education.
Parents considering these options need to know which curriculum is followed, how teaching and assessment work, and what support is available. They also need to know how learners can ultimately obtain a recognized National Senior Certificate (matric). Schoonwinkel stresses that leaving a traditional school environment should not mean the end of a learner's education. Families need to be aware of the reliable alternatives available to keep the learner on track academically.
These alternatives can be particularly important later in a learner's school career. Academic challenges, financial pressure, health problems, or changing family circumstances can make it difficult to complete grades 10 to 12. Impaq, South Africa's largest provider of homeschooling and online schooling, offers learners in grades 10 to 12 the opportunity to spread their subjects over two years. If their results meet the requirements for the National Senior Certificate, learners can request that Sacai combine their results to receive a single matric certificate.
This approach does not mean that matric becomes "easier." Learners still need to meet the academic and certification requirements. Schoonwinkel notes that there is sometimes talk of education as if all learners must complete their school career within the same timeframe. For some learners, it is feasible to complete seven grade 12 subjects in one year, while for others, their circumstances make it very difficult.
Families need to be aware of their options, as no single education model suits every child. Alternative learning models cannot solve the complex socio-economic and structural challenges that hinder access to education, but families need to know that there are other reliable options if their circumstances change. Registration for Impaq's 2027 academic year is open, and families can now find out what options are available rather than waiting until uncertainty about school placement determines their next step.
Key points
- About 405,000 South African children did not attend an educational institution in 2024.
- Alternative schooling options, such as homeschooling and online schooling, are available for South African families.
- Learners in grades 10 to 12 can spread their subjects over two years with Impaq.
