With so much uncertainty around education, families are having a tough time deciding on what education choice will be best for their children.
Pre-pandemic, this choice was pretty simple, but post-pandemic effects are making school choice decisions complicated and sometimes even overwhelming.
What are the top 20 types of school choices currently available?
• Majority of children attend traditional government schools that offer the national curriculum.
• Private schools offer national and internationally recognised curricula or a combination of both.
• Special education schools have staff and programmes that are better equipped to meet children’s specialised needs, be they physical disability, education barriers and even giftedness.
• Small boutique or model schools tailor-make and personalise education based on each student’s needs in small class sizes.
• Neighbourhood education centres allow children to commute to school independently.
• Schools near places of employment give parents more flexibility and easy access to their children.
• Business-hosted schools help maintain high employee attendance and the safety for their children.
• Home-education is on the increase where parents manage their children’s educational development.
• Study centres offer curriculum, assessment and learning support for home educated children.
• Virtual/online education makes education accessible to children who have internet and Wi-Fi.
• Schools with homework and aftercare assistance allow parents more quality time with their children in the evenings.
• Athletic schools emphasising sports, and other extra-curricula activities remain a popular choice.
• Technology schools are becoming more prevalent, where children design computer programmes.
• Arts integrated schools help students use their creative talents, nurture their creativity and encourage holistic development.
• Religious schools offer specific spiritual guidance in addition to the standard academic services offered, that require students to follow religious rituals and beliefs.
• Parochial schools partners up with and are funded by local religious groups, uses a combination of public or private curricula and makes a concerted effort to include students of all faiths and cultural backgrounds.
• Boarding schools offer lodging, meals and other support to children who reside far away from the campus.
• Child development specialist schools like Montessori and Waldorf work on addressing child’s needs based on their development stages and needs.
• Eco/Green/Nature schools place the environment at the central core of their curriculum while integrating the other basic academic subjects into lessons and activities.
• Language immersion schools help children gain academic mastery through a native and/or foreign language.
Policy wise South African schools are required to follow an inclusive approach where children of diverse needs are included within the environment of the school.
However, implementing inclusive education within any type of school, be they public or private remains a challenge.
• Compiled by Ponnie Modjadji Moodley, integrated education development consultant.
