• The process and forms needed to register your child (learner) for home education in South Africa.

Registration of learners for home education

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In South Africa, home schooling is a programme of education that a parent may provide to his or her child at home. A parent of a child who is of compulsory school-going age must apply to the South African Head of the Department of Education (DoE) of the province involved to register the child for receiving education at home. The following are compulsory phases of education: the foundation phase (grades 1 – 3), the intermediate phase (grades 4 – 6), and the senior phase (grades 7 – 9). A parent of a child who is no longer of compulsory school-going age or grade need not apply for registration for home schooling.

Registration forms

According to the policy for the registration of learners for home education, a parent must:

  • apply to the head of the Department of Education of the province where they live to register a child (learner) for home schooling;
  • submit the application form with a copy of the child’s birth certificate;
  • supply documentation that outlines the unit standards the parent will facilitate (teach).

Provincial application forms for the registration of learners for home education with the DoE:

According to DoE, it may take 30 days for the registration and the service is free.

Documents needed

Certified documents needed when registering your child for home education:

  • Parent/s certified ID copy.
  • In the case of foreign nationals, certified copies of passport / study permit / work permit / Asylum document are required.
  • Last copy of school report (if the child was in school before, but if the child is only starting school now, you must attach an immunisation card).
  • Weekly timetable, which includes contact time per day (law states a minimum of 3 hours per day).
  • Breakdown of terms per year (196 days per year).
  • Learning programme (our Think Digital Academy Termly Planners work well here).
  • Certified copy of your child’s birth certificate.
  • If you are using a Tutor, a copy of their qualifications is needed (this is officially not a requirement; however, the DoE do request it).
  • Letter of motivation about why you want to home school your child (this is officially not a requirement; however, the DoE do request it).

After registration

After your child has been registered for home schooling, you as the parent must do the following:

  • Keep a record of attendance.
  • Keep a portfolio of your child’s work.
  • Maintain up-to-date records of your child’s progress.
  • Keep a portfolio of the educational support given to your child.
  • Keep evidence of the continuous assessment of your child’s work.
  • Keep evidence of the assessment and / or examinations at the end of each year.
  • Keep evidence at the end of Grades 3, 6 and 9 that shows whether your child has achieved the outcomes for these grades.