South Africans walking away from traditional private and public schools

This was highlighted by Janet Kieswetter, spokesperson for the Gauteng Association for Homeschooling, who said South Africa is seeing a clear shift away from traditional schooling.

Cost pressures, concerns over bullying, and the availability of flexible qualifications are among the biggest reasons driving this shift.

The financial realities of schooling play a significant role. Private school fees continue to rise sharply, with CambriLearn projecting a 6% to 10% increase in 2025. 

However, middle-class incomes have barely grown in real terms, less than 1% over the past seven years. 

“Parents are paying R100,000 or more per child every year, but they still have questions about the quality, the value, and future outcomes it delivers,” said CambriLearn.

While cheaper, public schools face systemic challenges, including overcrowded classrooms, under-resourced facilities, and a teacher shortage estimated at more than 30,000.

As a result, more parents are exploring homeschooling. Data from the Pestalozzi Trust shows that Gauteng had 2,844 registered homeschooling parents in 2024, with an additional 2,189 applications filed in the first five months of 2025.

Online education providers are also seeing strong demand. UCT Online High School, established in 2022, has already enrolled more than 17,000 pupils in grades 8 to 12, with 4,000 enrolled this year alone. 

At the same time, Curro, South Africa’s largest private education provider, saw a decline in enrolments from 73,159 in February 2024 to 72,109 a year later.

Kieswetter said that a major reason for the growth is that homeschooling has simply become more visible and accessible.

“We were never in a headspace that homeschooling is an option until 2020, when we were all forced to homeschool during lockdown,” she explained. 

“Suddenly, it was on our awareness, and the resources have increased exponentially. There are even free resources available now. It’s a viable option for parents, and that’s why it has increased so amazingly.”

“Parents are realising that they can tailor-make education for their own children. With homeschooling, you can select various subjects and go in depth as long as your child is eager and willing to learn,” she said.

Homeschooling is regulated and has high standards in South Africa

Concerns about safety and well-being are another driving factor. Kieswetter noted that a lot of parents are upset with bullying incidents at school. 

“Unfortunately, sometimes the school is not able to deal with that satisfactorily, and children are placed in stressful, anxious environments.” 

A common criticism of homeschooling is that it may isolate children socially. Kieswetter dismissed this, pointing out that homeschooling families actively engage in community activities. 

“We don’t learn in a bubble. We interact with friends and coaches and have all those extracurricular activities that public school children have,” she said. 

“The difference is that children can work faster, choose subjects that interest them, and spend more time on areas where they struggle.”

She added that homeschooling comes in many forms, from parent-led teaching to online tutoring support. 

“There are very many diverse ways to homeschool, and that’s why we can piece together exactly what our child needs to suit them specifically,” she explained.

Far from being excluded from higher education, homeschooled learners often pursue international qualifications. 

“Homeschoolers have found various international methods to achieve matric, not just the South African National Senior Certificate,” said Kieswetter. 

“There’s the American GED, the Cambridge route, and other international qualifications. Universities have seen that homeschoolers are well prepared and ready for varsity.” 

“They’ve got real-life experience, and many are entrepreneurs who have already equipped themselves with skills and online courses.”

The sector also operates within a legal framework, maintaining contact with the Department of Education. 

Kieswetter noted that homeschooling is legal in South Africa, which engages with the department and requires submission of assessments after grades three, six, and nine so they can see progress. 

“There is interaction and communication to make sure we are on par, and often above, educational standards.”

Kieswetter believes homeschooling will expand further. “This trend will continue to grow in Gauteng,South Africa, and globally because of the changing job market,” she said. 

Issued on BusinessTech by Malcolm Libera | https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/835343/south-africans-walking-away-from-traditional-private-and-public-schools/