Testing times for online schools

It has been a rocky road for some of the country’s online schools, with at least one shut down for lack of interest, another whose matrics will not write their finals this year and two others caught dishing out fake registrations to last year’s grade 12 pupils.

The South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (Sacai) has decided not to register Cape Town online school SEAT Academy for this year’s matric exams because it failed to submit pupils’ school-based assessment marks for last year on time and also did not pay.

The exams quality assurer, Umalusi, said two online schools in KwaZulu-Natal issued matric pupils with fake registration letters and dished out old question papers to grade 12 pupils who were sitting for their final exams last year. 

Umalusi, which was made aware of the two schools through a whistle-blower last month, caused a stir in the online schooling sector after issuing a statement last Friday saying it had not accredited any online school in the country to offer any of its qualifications, which include the National Senior Certificate. It also confirmed that there was no legislation to regulate online schools. 

Meanwhile, St Stithians Online School, which charges R128,700 for an 18-month junior high qualification aimed at children aged 12 to 14, confirmed to the Sunday Times that it had closed down in June. The online school, which opened in January 2021, was established through a partnership between the top Johannesburg private school and the Valenture Institute.

Some parents decided online learning is not for them and will enrol their children in conventional schools again  

—  Banele Lukhele

Valenture spokesperson Darryn Lee said the school struggled “in terms of financial sustainability” because of the increase in the number of online schools and the decision by many families to revert to conventional schooling after the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“The fees were comparable with those charged by other schools offering small classes presented in live sessions,” he said.

The Valenture Institute is also in partnership the University of Cape Town for the UCT Online High School, an unrelated venture. The Sunday Times found nine complaints made against the UCT Online High School on the Hellopeter online review platform since December. 

Complaints include a lack of teacher availability and being referred to pre-recorded videos when children come unstuck in subjects like maths. A disgruntled pupil said his marks had plummeted.

But another parent, who asked not to be named, told the Sunday Times that for her 16-year-old son, who joined the school this year in grade 11, the transition from face-to-face to online learning was “challenging but he has managed to find his feet and work fairly successfully”. 

“We have always had quick and easy correspondence with the support coach, the head of grade 11 and from the admin department. Our queries have always been answered, not necessarily the answers we were hoping for but nevertheless explanations were given and the various situations explained.” 

Banele Lukhele, executive head of the UCT Online High School, said “the small set of negative reviews represents a fraction of one percent of the 4,725 learners” enrolled.

Last year 5,507 enrolled but only 4,483 completed the academic year. 

“Some parents decided that online learning is not for them and that their children will be enrolling in conventional schools again for the 2023 school year,” Lukhele said. “The majority of learners who withdrew during 2022 did so because they felt either that online schooling was not for them or because they had found it difficult to adapt.” 

Lukhele said that last year they “saw good results”. 

Sarah Ferguson, head of marketing at Teneo Online School, the largest online school in the country, claimed that their average pass rate for their grade R to 11 pupils was 78%. Pupils opting for the 100% “live” teacher-led lessons as well as recorded lessons pay R3,199 a month. 

Louise Schoonwinkel, MD of Optimi Home, said their online school will have its first matrics writing at the end of the year. The fees, including textbooks, are R26,500 a year. 

Faith Njau, executive head of Curro Online, said since its inception in 2020 the school has seen a steady increase in enrolment. “All classes take place through live lessons with teachers according to a structured timetable. Pupils are required to always keep their cameras on so teachers can engage them and notice when their attention wavers.”

Sacai CEO Keith Maseko confirmed that 39 distance education providers were registered with them to write the matric exams. Confidence Dikgole, CEO of the Independent Examinations Board (IEB), said there were nine online schools and one distance education provider registered with them. 

Umalusi spokesperson Biki Lepota said Sacai and the IEB register online schools for assessment and as exam centres. 

“These assessment bodies take responsibility for the pupils’ school-based assessment marks that count towards their final mark and provide exam centres where candidates from online schools can write.” 

He said Sacai and the IEB were required to apply to Umalusi for concessions for certification o pupils from the online schools.   

The Sunday Times tried unsuccessfully to contact SEAT Academy from Wednesday until Friday as the phone went unanswered.