The Department of Basic Education is considering a proper accreditation and registration process for online schools, says Umalusi, the regulator of South Africa’s National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.
Businesstech reports that Biki Lepota, senior manager of public relations and communications at Umalusi, said this week: “We want to make the public aware of the fact that, currently, there is no law that regulates online schools in South Africa.”
He added: “As we speak, the Department of Basic Education is working tirelessly to finalise a document which would govern how online schools need to be registered and accredited by Umalusi in the country.”
On 5 September, following the launch of the Unisa Open School (UOS) – which will see the distance-learning university offer Grade 10 and 11 classes – Umalusi issued a statement saying that it had not accredited any online schools in South Africa.
The UOS had said that because it was registered with the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI), which was in turn accredited by Umalusi, “the UOS learners who write and pass the NSC examination in Grade 12” will be issued a certificate by Umalusi.
“Umalusi cannot attest to the quality of provision and assessment, including the School Based Assessment component of the NSC, at any institution that Umalusi, including online schools, does not accredit,” Umalusi said in the statement.
According to Umalusi’s website it accredits independent schools; private Further Education and Training colleges; private Adult Education and Training providers; and private assessment bodies that assess the qualifications Umalusi certifies.
“Registration with an accredited assessment body does not mean that the online school itself is accredited,” the statement said.
“Currently, online schools are also not registered with provincial education departments. They are, therefore, operating in an unregulated environment,” it said.
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