Many parents wonder if curriculum compliance with government policies is required of homeschoolers in South Africa.
Does the Footprints curriculum comply with the minimum standards that the department of basic education requires from home school programmes?
~ Adriaan, Bloemfontein
Answer to Curriculum Compliance
On 25th March 2011, Judge Cynthia Pretorius confirmed in the Pretoria High Court that the state curriculum is not binding on independent schools and parents who educate their children at home.
This means that homeschoolers are not required to follow the state curriculum but instead have the freedom to use any materials that they find suitable for their purposes.
When we compared our Footprints programmes to guidelines in the NCS (national curriculum statement) a few years ago, we found that there was quite a lot that overlapped but that our programmes far exceeded the state curriculum in the richness of topics of study that they cover.
Being literature-based they offer insight and a depth of knowledge that text-book based learning with its summaries and point form lists can never present.
As homeschooling parents, it is essential to break away from the mindset that the information prescribed by the state is all there is to learn.
No one can ever learn everything, so every curriculum will have ‘gaps’, even the national curriculum.
Our role is to help our children to develop a love of learning and to equip them with the skills and the desire to learn (or teach themselves later) about any topic that grabs them or that they need to learn about, at any stage of their lives.
Too many homeschool parents choose very structured, prescriptive curriculum materials out of fear that their kids might miss something or not be up to standard if they dare to veer off the prescribed path, and in so-doing, many take the joy out of learning, children become reluctant learners, family relationships become stressed and eventually some drop out of homeschooling as it “didn’t work” for them.
Here is a table that contrasts the differences between school-at-home versus eclectic homeschooling.
Homeschooling is NOT school at home.
There are many more enjoyable and creative ways to learn at home and out in the real world, than a classroom-based programme will allow…and homeschoolers who discover this are able to embrace a lifestyle of learning that brings much joy to the whole family.
The homeschool drop-out scenario could easily be avoided if parents did more research about the various options and wonderful homeschool-friendly products that are available, and if they were bold enough to change the products they use or the way they home school their families.
Just like a person invests time and money to train and equip themselves for a new career, prospective homeschooling parents would be wise to invest in (re-)educating themselves to be successful as their children’s new teacher and life coach!
The more informed the parent is, the more confident and equipped s/he or he will be when making choices and decisions for the family, which is why we strongly recommend that all new homeschooling parents sign up for our free 7 part email course, Tips for Starting Homeschooling.
Our Footprints South African Homeschool Curriculum Products
Footprints offers South African homeschooling families delightful and enriching literature-based curriculums for every age in both English and Afrikaans. Since 2002 families have enjoyed journeying through time and taking educational trips around the country to explore our rich heritage.
“My kids and I have absolutely loved following this beautiful curriculum and every homeschool family living in SA or SA expats should do this programme – your children are seriously missing out on the best way to learn about our beautiful country if not!”
~ Simone Eichler
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