As thousands of South African pupils prepare to sit their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, many are pursuing the qualification through online schools operating in a regulatory grey area. Industry directories list more than a dozen major online-school providers, but the Department of Basic Education does not publish a consolidated national register or enrolment total for online schools. This lack of regulation has raised concerns about the credibility and integrity of online schooling.
Umalusi spokesperson Biki Lepota said there were currently no regulations governing the provision of online schooling, but the NSC continued to be offered in online learning environments. To oversee this mode of delivery and safeguard the credibility of the matric, Umalusi had developed a set of non-negotiable requirements and shared them with assessment bodies. These requirements will serve as an interim regulatory framework for online schools until the relevant regulations are finalised and promulgated.
Under the interim requirements, candidates from online schools and distance-education providers must write their NSC examinations in person at registered centres in South Africa. Assessment bodies must set criteria for registering providers, report their decisions to Umalusi, and ensure that providers offer the National Curriculum Statement in grades 10 to 12. Grade 12 candidates must also have passed grades 10 and 11. This move aims to ensure that online schools meet the same standards as traditional schools.
Online schools have implemented measures to protect assessment integrity. Teneo Online School, for example, uses secure pupil accounts, set assessment windows, locked modules, time limits, and access codes to prevent cheating. Pupil identities are checked through account access, facial recognition, and selfie verification, while assessments are invigilated using audio, video, and screen monitoring. Saving Grace Education Group also applies formal assessment safeguards, including invigilated assessments from Grade 9 and moderation of pupil progress.
Despite regulatory uncertainty, online schools are attracting families seeking an alternative to traditional education. One family, who opted for online schooling with Impaq, cited concerns about declining education standards in some schools and the need for greater flexibility to adapt to their child's learning pace. Another family enrolled their child in the Cambridge curriculum through Evolve Online School, praising the school's supportive staff and good structure.
The Department of Basic Education is working on proposed amendments to the South African Schools Act of 1996 to include online schools. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said the department had obtained a legal opinion from the Office of the Chief State Law Adviser recommending that the Act be amended to make provision for online schools. The department is also developing interim measures to guide the sector.
The growth of online schools in South Africa highlights the need for a comprehensive regulatory framework. While online schools offer pupils a route to the National Senior Certificate, the lack of regulation poses risks to the credibility of the qualification. As the government works on new rules, online schools will need to adapt to ensure they meet the required standards.
Key points
- Online schools in South Africa are growing rapidly, but the sector lacks a dedicated regulatory framework.
- Umalusi has introduced interim requirements to oversee online schooling and safeguard the credibility of the matric.
- Online schools are implementing measures to protect assessment integrity, including secure pupil accounts and invigilated assessments.
