Selecting a good school

EDUCATION: RIGHT CHOICE IMPACTS ON A LIFETIME

- Hein Kaiser

Choosing a school for your offspring is probably one of the most important decisions that any parent could make. And parents have the best dreams for their children. When you have a child, everything becomes about their tomorrow while considering the demands of the present; also too, the constraints.

In South Africa there are government schools, plain and simple, former Model C schools where governing bodies have turned them semi-private to an extent. Then there are private schools, a legion of them to choose from along with, what those "in the know" call, Private-Private schools. The latter, the institutions that run a three-term school year and are owned by a single person or entity. They're not part of a group or a company, and ergo more prestigious, urban legend goes.

But social standing should not be a consideration in where your child gets their education. There are some hard and fast points to ponder when selecting a school; whether it's a geographic move to a new environment or a first-time step into Grade 1. And making the right choice impacts a lifetime.

Research is the reason the internet exists. Google the schools in your area, check out the reviews. Join groups on social media like Mamahood where conversations could reveal a lot about your shortlist of educational options. Then, give the schools a call.