More SA parents opt for homeschooling as private school prices soar
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South African parents are pulling their children out of private institutions at an increasing rate as tuition costs continue to hit new heights.
Instead of public schools, many families are opting for homeschooling.
According to BusinessTech, the financial pressure starts early, with premier private schools charging as much as R130,000 a year just for pre-school and Grade R.
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By the time a student reaches matric, those fees can soar to over R350,000 at the country’s most elite schools.
It is not just the price tags causing a shift, though. The public schooling sector is also under pressure, dealing with massive overcrowding, a shortage of teachers, and ongoing placement challenges.
Wynand van Heerden, CEO of Edify, a provider of tutoring and homeschooling, notes that these factors are driving more parents away from the traditional classroom every year.
"There is no doubt about it; homeschooling is increasing in South Africa," said Van Heerden. "The general perception of the South African school system has not been great, and private schools are becoming unaffordable for the vast majority of the population."
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Van Heerden explained that families are now looking for ways to maintain the high standards of top-tier private education at a much lower cost.
"So homeschooling will continue to increase for the next ten years. I can assure you of that."
Currently, about 2% of South Africa's 13 million school-age learners are homeschooled. While this trend is most visible in Gauteng and the Western Cape, Edify suggests these statistics are likely conservative.
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