Umalusi addresses public concerns over accreditation & regulation of online schools

Education regulation body Umalusi has addressed public concerns over the accreditation and regulation of online schools, saying that while the sector presents significant complexities, the body is committed to ensuring credible standards for learners.

Speaking on the emergence of online schools, CEO Mafu Rakometsi noted the concept largely came during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding the body has no experience navigating the space.

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The quality assurance body revealed that among the issues to be addressed were questions around the timing and deliveryof lessons.

"There are a number of questions that arise. One of the questions that will arise is, when will the learners be taught? Are they taught online, you know, live, or is it recorded lessons? And where is the recorded lessons? When do they interact with those lessons?" Rakometsi asked.

He also highlighted concerns about the social development of learners.

"One other thing that has to be looked into over and about that is, look at you, look at me, we've got networks that were established at primary and secondary school. What happens to the social activities of these learners in terms of the networks that they have to establish?"

Despite the complexities, Rakometsi insisted that Umalusi was not opposed to online schools, adding that to manage the sector, the body had introduced interim non-negotiable requirements, designed to guide assessment bodies and online providers offering NSC exams.