SCHOOLS ON SCREEN

The online education sector is growing, but how do you know if it's the right choice for your child?

- KESHIA AFRICA

IT WAS the saving grace of many a parent worried about their child’s academic progress during Covid-19 lockdowns. Thanks to online classes and virtual teaching materials children could at least still learn. 

Online classes soon developed into online schools as the pandemic progressed and even after South Africa opened up again, virtual learning became a desired option for many parents. 

The University of Cape Town opened up an online school to much fanfare and smaller organisations like Seat Academy provided options for parents keen to enrol their kids. 

Yet, the industry is still in its infancy – and complaints have started to pop up more and more. Classes being cancelled, a lack of academic and administrative support and pupils’ marks not being submitted on time or to the correct educational body – these are just a few things parents are upset about. 

Shamiema Majiet is one of them. An online school seemed the perfect solution for the single mom whose job requires her to travel often. She thought it would make life easier for her and her daughter, Pari Na’ma Anthony (16), so the teen could travel with her. 

But almost a year and a half later they’re considering going back to a traditional school. 

“When she started in 2022, the first term went well and I was impressed with how they handled everything,” Shamiema says. “But from the second term, the support started dwindling. 

“My daughter’s marks immediately started to drop and this shocked me because she’s always been at the top of her class.”