Home education (often referred to as homeschooling) is where parents choose to educate their children at home instead of sending them to a traditional public or private school. Families choose to homeschool for a variety of reasons, including:
- dissatisfaction with the educational options available;
- different religious beliefs or educational philosophies;
- sport and/or cultural commitments where the child’s schedule cannot be accommodated by a traditional school;
- learning challenges; and more.
Section 3 of the South African Schools Act states that school attendance is compulsory for children from the age of 7 up to the age of 15. Homeschooling or home education is a legal alternative to traditional public or private schools. Distance learning applies to learners older than 15, i.e. learners in the FET Phase (Grades 10 to 12). Distance learning is an alternative education option that, in Impaq’s instance, provides the support, material, and guidance for learners to complete their studies without physically attending a school/educational institution.