Your child might only be seven years old but as a parent, you are probably already worried about university and career options. It is natural as a parent to want the best for your child and going against the grain with homeschooling can be daunting.
A very common question asked is, “how will my child get a matric certificate and what about tertiary education?” Let’s explore the options.
South African Curriculum vs Examination Boards
CAPS is the National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement used by the Department of Basic Education (DBE). This is the curriculum that is used in most of South African schools. In most cases the DBE will assess and mark the NSC (National Senior Certificate) exams.
IEB (Independent Education Board) is normally associated with private schooling. And although many people think IEB is a separate curriculum, it is not. It is a different examination board than the DBE. Students still follow the CAPS curriculum but the examination requirements of IEB is of a higher level. The difference is in the assessment, not in the content.
Another examination board is SACAI (South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute). This is a fairly new board in comparison to IEB but is also allowed to assess and mark exams for NSC. The content of what is taught is still aligned with CAPS.
Choosing a Curriculum
There are many different routes you can follow to get a school leavers certificate. It is always better to keep the end in mind to determine the best route for your child. Not all options allows for studying at all tertiary institutions. But not all children want to study at a tertiary institution and therefore different routes can be taken.
CAPS
As CAPS is the curriculum used by the DBE it is most suitable for the South African Environment. After passing the final exams, you will receive a NSC certificate which is accepted everywhere in South Africa. However you still need to fulfill all the requirements of the tertiary institution you would like to apply to.
A drawback of CAPS is that it is content heavy and relies on rote learning. Students are not encouraged to apply any critical thinking.
You do not need to follow CAPS while homeschooling the younger years but in order to write the final exams, you have to complete grades 8, 9 and 10 and have formal assessments done for each year by one of the accredited examination boards.
Cambridge
Cambridge is based on the UK education system and is accepted by universities and employers worldwide. It is also accepted in South Africa and is equivalent to a matric certificate. If you would like to apply for tertiary studies, it is important to ensure you choose your subjects and exam levels according to the requirements of the institution you want to attend.
There is a wide range of subjects to choose from although many are not available in South Africa. Cambridge is heavily focused on Science, Technology and Maths. The exams and text books are also very expensive and parents often find they also need help of a tutor. Dedicated Cambridge tutor centres are around, and a variety of online options also exist.
However, Cambridge is renowned for the development of higher thinking. Much of the content is similar to CAPS but students are encouraged to apply critical thinking instead of rote learning. It is seen as the gold standard for international study and is highly sought after.
GED
GED is an American alternative. It is accepted by most universities in the United States and many worldwide although there might be additional requirements for admission.
In South Africa GED is equivalent to a matric certificate NQF L4. This means a GED can get you into a college but not university. It is not impossible though but you would need to do additional courses before you could apply for university entrance.
GED preparation is mostly done online and all exams are online. Some dedicated GED tutor centres also exist where the curriculum is taught in a class setup same as in any other classroom situation. It is cost friendly in comparison with other options. There are no other formal requirements to enroll for GED examination. The four subjects you are examined on are Language Arts, Mathematical Reasoning, Social Studies and Science.
American High School Diploma
The American High School Diploma is a fairly new alternative in South Africa but certainly growing. This option is not as well-known as for example Cambridge or NSC. It is a standard qualification for completing high school in the USA.
Although it is accepted at South African universities, there are additional requirements as the diploma is only recognized as NQF L4. You would need additional letters of admission for USA universities and/or SAT scores.
However, there is a wide range of subjects to choose from and the schedule is very flexible. You can start university level courses while studying towards a matric certification. There are various online options available if you would like to follow this route.
What is Best?
There is no general best option. The best option will depend on each individual child’s interests, learning style and career plans. When a child is allowed to explore their own interests from a young age, the options for high school will be much clearer at an older age.
At Animalia we allow children to explore the world and develop their interests. For all high school options, any “gaps” can be filled fairly quickly before you enroll your child for high school. A motivated older child can learn years of information in a short time. So instead of being concerned about “falling behind” in younger years, we can relax and trust the process.
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