TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS FOR ONLINE SCHOOL?
You’ll need to have some basic computer equipment:
- A computer, laptop or tablet
- Reliable internet access
IS HOME SCHOOLING & ONLINE LEARNING THE SAME?
With homeschooling parents purchase or build the curriculum and serve as teachers, teaching their children at home. Online schooling is essentially an established virtual school that teaches the curriculum using trained teachers.
CAN I MOVE FROM MY CURRENT SCHOOL AND ENROL WITH SWITCH ANYTIME?
Yes. What will be required is the learner’s previous school report when enrolling.
WHEN CAN I ENROL INTO THE SCHOOL?
You can join the school anytime, enrollment is open throughout the year.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I HAVE SUBMITTED THE ENROLMENT FORM
Within 72 hours you’ll receive confirmation of enrolment with login details and a scheduled orientation session.
WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION?
Switch-Edu Online uses English as the language of instruction. We also focus on other official languages as 1st additional languages which include isiZulu, Sepedi and Afrikaans. We also offer other international languages as listed under courses.
DO I HAVE TO REGISTER MY CHILD WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION?
Being registered with Switch-Edu Online which is a curriculum provider, learners are not automatically registered with the Department of Basic Education (DBE). The department requires parents to register their home educated children themselves. Learners in Grade R and those who are 16-years-old and over are not required to be registered. We recommend that you register with the department when you register with Switch-Edu Online. For further details, contact the DBE –
https://www.gov.za/services/basic-education/apply-do-home-education#
WILL TRAINING BE PROVIDED ON HOW TO USE THE ONLINE SYSTEM?
Our support team will provide orientation sessions where learners and parents can learn how to use the learner management system which is simple and easy to navigate. The sessions will be routinely scheduled throughout the year.
HOW DO LEARNERS KNOW WHAT TO DO EACH DAY?
Once logged into the homepage on the learner management system, learners should be able to view their timetable with an overview of up and coming lessons. In addition, schedule items that they are expected to complete such as out of class activities (homework) will be shared under the ‘The OC’ (The Out of Class) session as well as important dates that the teachers may share.
HOW ARE LESSONS DELIVERED?
Lessons are primarily delivered by a teacher live via the Zoom platform, with a small portion delivered asynchronously via electronic communication. Our teachers are specifically trained for teaching in an online environment.
HOW IS LEARNER PERFORMANCE MONITORED?
Using our world-class learner management system, parents or teachers will be able to see at-a-glance, how the learner is performing from their home page. They will be able to see current grades in each course, attendance records, the last date the student entered the course, and if there are any overdue items.
ASSESSMENTS, TESTS & EXAMS
In line with the CAPS curriculum, these will be scheduled accordingly and will take place online.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ONLINE LEARNING?
The concept of traditional education has changed radically within the last couple of years. Being physically present in a classroom isn’t the only learning option anymore. Following the live lessons, learners can learn at their own pace by replaying the recorded classes when it suits them. Research and online learning articles, have shown why online learning is better than and/or exceeds average student outcome expectations and more and more parents are signing up for virtual learning at an increasing rate.
WHAT ONLINE LEARNING MATERIAL DO I NEED?
Once enrolled, you will be provided with a purchase list for stationary, workbooks and books required for your grade.
WHEN DO I PAY FEES
Switch Edu Online has affordable online school fees, fees are payable a month in advance. There are a number of payment options available.
- Monthly payments by debit order
- Annual payment at 5% discount (payable by 15 January)
- Term payments (payable by 4 instalments in advance: 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, 1 October)
- Bitcoin payments for our online school at 18% discount
DO I HAVE TO REGISTER MY CHILD WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION?
Being registered with Switch-Edu Online which is a curriculum provider, learners are not automatically registered with the Department of Basic Education (DBE). The department requires parents to register their home educated children themselves. Learners in Grade R and those who are 16-years-old and over are not required to be registered. We recommend that you register with the department when you register with Switch-Edu Online. For further details, contact the DBE –
https://www.gov.za/services/basic-education/apply-do-home-education#
WILL TRAINING BE PROVIDED ON HOW TO USE THE ONLINE SYSTEM?
Our support team will provide orientation sessions where learners and parents can learn how to use the learner management system which is simple and easy to navigate. The sessions will be routinely scheduled throughout the year.
HOW DO I ENROL?
Fill in the enrollment form by clicking on the ‘ENROL’ button on the website. The form is simple and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Please have the following required documents ready to attach:
- Parent / Guardian’s ID
- Learner’s Photo
- Learner’s Previous School Report
WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED FOR ENROLMENT?
- Previous school report
- Parent/Guardian’s ID copy
- Learners Photo
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I HAVE SUBMITTED THE ENROLMENT FORM?
Within 72 hours you’ll receive confirmation of enrolment with login details and a scheduled orientation session.
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WILL THERE BE AN INTERVIEW?
There is no interview process. A parent/guardian will have to fill out a short application form as part of the application process. There will be no tests conducted.
WHEN DO I PAY FEES?
Fees are payable a month in advance. There are a number of payment options available.
- Monthly payments by debit order (payable by 1st of the month)
- Annual payment at 5% discount (payable by 15 January)
- Term payments (payable by 4 installments in advance: 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, 1 October)
- Bitcoin payments at 30% discount
HOW DO LEARNERS KNOW WHAT TO DO EACH DAY?
Once logged into the homepage on the learner management system, learners should be able to view their timetable with an overview of up and coming lessons. In addition, schedule items that they are expected to complete such as out of class activities (homework) will be shared under the ‘The OC’ (The Out of Class) session as well as important dates that the teachers may share.
IS THERE A TIMETABLE?
Yes. All classes will have a pre-scheduled weekly timetable to follow.
WHAT IF I MISS A CLASS?
All live lessons are recorded and are available to leaners to replay later or for those who may have missed the live class.
WHAT ARE ON DEMAND COURSES?
Over and above the foundational CAPS curriculum, Switch-Edu Online has a diverse range of additional short courses that aim to broaden and enrich the development of learners.
These courses can be taken at any time, by anyone, independently without registration to the main CAPS curriculum courses.
IS SWITCH REGISTERED WITH SACAI, IEB or DBE?
SACAI & IEB: As a curriculum provider currently targeting learners between Grade 1-8, Switch is not required to be registered with the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI) and the Independent Examinations Board (IEB).
DBE: The department stipulates that all learners up to Grade 9 must be registered with the provincial Department of Basic Education by the parent.