Step Into Private Academy stepping out of line

One of the local private schools has been found to be not registered with the department of education.

According to law, all schools are supposed to be registered with the department. Step Into Private Academy, which used to be known as Stepping Stone, is not registered.

After a visit to the school, the school insisted that they are registered with Impaq and they have asked each parent to register their children with the department.

A questionnaire was then sent to Impaq to find out whether they are allowed to register schools.

ALSO READ

Special treatment for Audeamus

Parents allege that a school is not registered with the department of education

In their response Impaq said that FutureLearn owns several education offerings and brands including Impaq.

“Impaq provides CAPS-aligned curriculum products and services to parents, learners, schools and tutors. Our offering includes a range of packages specifically tailored for the home education market. We also licence tutors to use our products and services in supporting home education learners. To our knowledge, we are the largest home education provider in South Africa, servicing a total of approximately 13 000 home education learners in 2017. It is important to note that Impaq does not own, operate or have any interest in any independent school, tutor or tutor centre (including Stepping Stone Academy). To this end, we also do not accredit any entity, nor does the use of our curriculum amount to any form of accreditation. According to the SA Schools Act, any entity wishing to operate as a school must register as such with the Department of Basic Education and obtain an EMIS number in the process. To our knowledge, in the event that an entity does not operate as a school but simply provides supplementary educational services, the requirements for registration as a school do not apply,” said Stefan Botha chief executive officer.

Step Into Private Academy schools

Mpumalanga Department of Education media liaison officer Mr Gerald Sambo stated that the school in question is not registered with the department.

He further said that it is the responsibility of parents to verify with the department if an independent school is registered to avoid challenges such as these.

“The department will take the necessary steps to ensure that the school complies with the requirements for operating as an independent school as per the departmental guidelines for independent schools. However, as things stand, schools that are operating outside the law must be closed and the owners must face the might of the law,” added Sambo.