Registration for Home Education

Parents who want to provide home education for their children must register with the WCED.

The Department will approve the application if the applicant can satisfy it that:

• The registration is in the interests of the learner.
• The education provided at home will meet the minimum requirements of the curriculum at public schools.
• The home education will be of a standard not inferior to the standard of education provided at public schools.
• The parents will comply with any other reasonable conditions set by the Head of Education.

Registration can be withdrawn. Before this can happen, the Head of Education must:

• Inform the parent and give reasons for the withdrawal.
• Give the parent an opportunity to make representations.

A parent can appeal to the provincial Minister of Education against a refusal to register a learner or the withdrawal of a registration.

Records to keep after registering

• Record of attendance.
• Portfolio of your child’s work.
• Up-to-date records of your child’s progress.
• Portfolio of the educational support given to your child.
• Evidence of the continuous assessment of your child’s work.
• Evidence of the assessment and or examination at the end of each year.
• Evidence at the end of grade 3,6 and 9, that shows whether your child has achieved the outcomes for these grades.
• The portfolio of evidence for at least three (3) years.
• A summative record or assessment schedule for three years after the home education programme is terminated.

If a learner who has been registered for home education is later admitted to a public or registered independent school, the parent must request the Head of Education in writing to end the learner's registration for home education.

Applications are made on the required form which can also be obtained from the WCED.

The parent must submit the completed form with the following documents:

• Certified copy of the learner’s birth certificate
• Certified copy of the learner’s last school report signed by the principal (if applicable)
• Certified copy of the parent’s ID
• In case of foreign nationals certified copies of passport /study permit/work permit/Asylum document is required.
• Certified copy of the transfer certificate from previous school (if Applicable)
• In case of a learner with special needs, attach certified copy of assessment document or Referral letter from the medical practitioner.
• Motivation why the parent wishes the learner to be educated at home.
• Full details of the educational programme (subjects, teaching hours per subjects, assessment, extra mural activities, excursions, library, programme use of tutor).

Timeframes

Subject to a required home visit, your home education application may take up to 30 days to be processed.

How much does it cost?

Registration of home education is free, however, tutoring and learning support material costs are for the parent’s account.

For more information, contact:

Mr DD Louw
Tel: 021 467 2653
E-mail: deon.louw@westerncape.gov.za

Read more information on policies, legislation, application forms and guidelines for home education.