South African Court confirms : National Curriculum not binding on private education

A court in South Africa found that the that government policy was not enforceable on private schools until regulations had been issued. An application by a group of independent Afrikaans Christian schools and a home schooling mother to declare that the national school curriculum and policy on religion did not apply to them has been dismissed on technical grounds.

The Pestalozzi Trust representing homeschoolers issued the following in response to the case:

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National Curriculum not binding on private education

  State curriculum not binding

Posted by: "Leendert van Oostrum" leendert@oostrum.org   leendertvanoostrum

Fri Mar 25, 2011 8:44 am (PDT)

Court confirms : National Curriculum not binding on private education

Statement by the Pestalozzi Trust    http://www.pestalozzi.org  

25th March 2011

Judge Cynthia Pretorius confirmed in die Pretoria High Court today that the state curriculum is not binding on independent schools and parents who educate their children at home.

The judge rejected an application by homeschooling parents and private schools to declare the curriculum non-binding. She decided that a Constitutional Court verdict from 2001 made the application unnecessary.

Mr. Bouwe van der Eems of the Pestalozzi Trust, a legal defence association for civil and home education, nevertheless welcomed the verdict because private educators can now safely ignore demands to teach according to the state curriculum.

He expects that the verdict will bring peace to parents and private education institutions who continually have to resist unlawful pressure from education authorities demanding that they teach according to the national curriculum.

Van der Eems points mentions that tens of thousands of homeschooling parents and thousands of private schools have refused to register with the authorities precisely because officials make unlawful demands such as compliance with the national curriculum as precondition for registration. He is of the opinion that these parents and schools have been vindicated by the verdict.

He says that many parents and schools have also succumbed in the past to intimidation by education officials to comply with such unlawful demands. He expects that more of them will now stand up for the internationally
recognised right of children to receive education that differs from that which is offered by the state.

The Pestalozzi Trust regrets that the case took nearly four years and gets the impression that the minister fought tooth and nail to keep the case out of court while she and officials at all levels persisted in imposing the
curriculum on private education. The Trust calls on education authorities to communicate and consult better with stakeholders in future about the measures that they attempt to impose on private education.

For further information: Leendert van Oostrum 012 330 1337
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References in the Media

Judge’s no to schools
http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/content/en/citizen/local-news?oid=182610&sn=Detail&pid=334&Judge%E2%80%99s-no-to-schools

School, minister locked in policy law

http://www.tios.co.za/school-minister-locked-in-policy-law-1.1038680

Homeschooling in Uganda - Homeschooler enters University of Cape Town

Homeschool parents want the best for their children and often start the process sometimes unsure of themselves and the outcome.   Recently a pioneer Ugandan family rejoiced when their son was admitted to the University of Cape Town.

 The Dr Magara his wife with their four homeschooled children. Photo from Daily Monitor

As a retired homeschool father, I want to congratulate  Dr James Magara and his family.  I will pray that they will continue on this path.   By God's grace my children also enrolled at universities after completing their homeschooling.
 
For those considering homeschooling, it is not always easy but it is rewarding. Although I have not yet met the Magara family, I am sure they have the discipline required to homeschool.  It is often the mothers who take the largest share in the task as the men are often too busy putting bread on the table.  The role of men is something we need to attend to in homeschooling.  Being disciplined and selecting an appropriate curriculum are most important for success.

 References:

1.  They decided to homeschool their children and are happy with the results, Daily Monitor, by By Agnes K. Namaganda,  2011-03-06,  http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Sunday+Life/-/689856/1119148/-/heexmoz/-/ 

2.  Homeschooling in Uganda Posted by Bouwe van der Eems,  March 11, 2011,  in Bloggies http://www.tuisskolers.org/index.php?option=com_lyftenbloggie&view=entry&year=2011&month=03&day=11&id=21:homeschooling-in-uganda

3. Homeschooling in Uganda , February 2010,  http://homeschoolbuzz.com/2010/03/homeschooling-in-uganda.html

4. James Magara - Owner at Jubilee Dental, 2011-03-13, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/james-magara/24/644/245 

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