What is Home Education?

Home education is a legally recognised form of alternative education in South Africa. As defined in the South African Schools Act, 1996 (as amended by the BELA Act 32 of 2024), home education is:.
A purposeful programme of education for a learner, alternative to school attendance, which is provided under the direction of the learner’s parent, primarily in the environment of the learner’s home, and may include tutorial or other educational support if necessary, and must meet the requirements for home education as contemplated in Section 51 of the Act.
Home education offers children the opportunity to learn in a safe, flexible, family-centred environment. It allows for affordable, personalised, and values-based education, often tailored to the child’s learning pace and interests. As stated in the policy for home education, Parents are the child’s first educators, and home education empowers them to take full responsibility for their child’s academic journey.
Is Home Education Legal?

Is Home Education Legal?

Yes. Home education was incorporated into the South African Schools Act in 1996 and further regulated under the BELA Act 32 of 2024. According to the amended law, education is now compulsory from Grade R (the year a child turns six) to Grade 9 or until the age of 15, whichever comes first.
TParents who choose home education must apply to the Head of the Provincial Department of Education for registration. Approval will be granted if the home education programme:
  • • Is in the best interest of the learner,
  • • Covers content and skills comparable to the national curriculum (CAPS),
  • • Provides suitable resources,
  • • Includes submission of assessment reports from a competent assessor at the end of each phase (Grades 3, 6, and 9).

If no response is received from the Department within 60 days of application, registration is deemed approved, provided proof of submission is available.

In accordance with the Policy on Home Education (2018) and the BELA Act, parents may choose any curriculum, including international ones, provided it is not inferior to the national curriculum. Many international curricula offered by service providers in South Africa are comparable to CAPS and accepted for home education.

Homeschooling is the fastest growing type of education in South Africa and the world. It is an alternate to attending public/private schools. Homeschooling is wide spread in developing countries but has gained significant momentum in South Africa.

Click here to register with the Department of Education.