In the 2019 election, SAHomeschoolers wrote a guide on the manifestos of the various political parties from the perspective of home education. This article can be viewed at 2019 Election Guide As the parties are releasing their manifestos, the same will be done for the 2024. The following questions will be answered using the party manifestos: Does the manifesto list education as an election issue?Does the manifesto mention / acknowledge the ..read more

Clause 2 of the BELA Bill proposes that the penalty for not complying with the requirements of the SA Schools Act is increased from 6 months to 1 year. This penalty also applies to failing to register for home education. The Pestalozzi Trust objected repeatedly to an inappropriate penalty for mere administrative negligence. In a submission to the minister in January 2020, the Pestalozzi provided a legal opinion that stated "Failure ..read more

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is arguably one of the best-run education departments in the country. MEC David Maynier had a plan to deliver quality education for a growing school population and visibly delivered against this plan. I can personally attest that extra classrooms were added to three schools in my immediate area in the last year. In November 2023 the national government dealt a massive R716.4 million blow to ..read more

There are many reasons why parents choose to home-school their children, either themselves or through home tutoring centres. Changing from a negative school environment, getting a higher quality education or wider subject choices, and having greater curriculum flexibility to work around other activities are just a few. For at least some parents, their child's learning difficulties or disability prompted the decision – the knowledge that the restrictions and limitations of mainstream ..read more

And how you can help with what happens next. The provincial hearings regarding the BELA Bill this year have been a hotly debated rollercoaster-ride all around, with many interesting developments and opinions from various political parties, the PCBE, home educating parents, alumni, and even home educated children. This article will provide a summary of the main highlights, covering various groups’ reasons for protesting or supporting different aspects of the Bill, and ..read more

The question is often asked why government wants to regulate home education. Home education seems to work well and does not place any demands on the state. To the contrary, it saves money. Why can’t government not leave home educators alone? There are many possible reasons why government wants to regulate home education. Public interest, economic stability, equity, order, security, etc. Questions about the exact intentions of government with home education ..read more

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face." - Eleanor Roosevelt. South Africa, it's time for courage in every arena, especially in the political, social, and educational arenas. These areas overlap, forming structures that determine the backbone (or lack of it) in our society. The current education system is in danger of being overrun by cowardly suggestions and regulations ..read more

Malcolm X wrote, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Somehow, the future seems more daunting than ever, with a plethora of overwhelming options to choose from. How do we reshape education to prepare well? These are the hot questions on the minds of most parents, the home education community, and the Pestalozzi Trust in particular, as they defend and work ..read more

Laws are made to create order in society. Its purpose is to make life more predictable, safe and fair. Citizens have peace of mind because they know that if they comply with the law, they will not get into conflict with the authorities. Laws make use of definitions, rules, and penalties to achieve their objective. The education landscape is regulated by the SA Schools Act (SASA) of 1996. This act contains ..read more

On 5 December 2022, minister Maynier delivered his adjustment budget speech at the Western Cape legislature. The purpose of the speech was to give hope to parents, teachers, and children. The minister attempts to give hope by “setting a bold new education agenda” of appointing more teachers, building more schools, and increasing the budget allocation by 0.07%. The pandemic taught us how fragile the school system is. Fragile systems deteriorate during ..read more