A press release from Umalusi is causing unnecessary worry and concern for parents and learners. It is a pity that learners already overburdened with the stress of preparing for their final exams are now made to worry.
The good news is that the vast majority of learners writing matric through so-called online schools have nothing to worry about as government regulations, for some reason not quoted in the Umalusi press release or by DBE spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga, make the writing on matric by learners not in a brick-and-mortar school entirely legal.
Regulation 7(4)(A) of the regulations that govern the matric exams make it clear that any learner who is registered with an assessment body responsible for the conduct of the final National Senior Certificate (Matric) examination and who meets all the required conditions can write the exam.
These assessment bodies are SACAI and the IEB.
Learners preparing for matric, at almost all “online schools” are registered with one of these assessment bodies. Parents, you will know because you likely paid fees for these exams.
However, in the past, a very few institutions have swindled parents and learners have discovered they are not registered days before the exams. This may be what Umalusi is trying to warn about.
Parents if they are concerned should confirm that the institution they are using is registered with the accredited exam body.
You can do this by going to the body’s website:
SACAI - List here – Check both the independent schools and distance education provider lists as some brick-and-mortar schools may also provide distance education.
IEB – Check here (High schools). Check the High Schools under the “Country” filter - select the “Online” filter – this will take you to some of the institutions. Others appear under the “All” filter. Make sure to check both.
Why are “online-schools” mentioned?
When it comes to writing the matric examination the term “online -school” is more of a marketing term. Institutions that are in Umalusi’s terms “granted a concession” to write the NSC can do so. You don’t have to worry about the term used to describe the institution i.e. Online School, Academy, Centre etc. just check if your child’s institution is listed on either the SACAI or IEB lists.
This is a “Too Long Did Not Read” Version – A long form version will follow
Comments