South African homeschooling provider, Impaq, is launching a new online school in September 2021.<\/p>\n
For 20 years, Impaq, which forms part of the Optimi Group, has forged a path for structured homeschooling in South Africa. During this period, more than 169,000 learners have used its educational services, the group said.<\/p>\n
With the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, demand for Impaq\u2019s homeschooling offering \u2014 which follows the CAPS curriculum and caters for Grade R – 12 learners \u2014 has accelerated with record numbers of families switching to this form of education in the last 18 months, it said.<\/p>\n
As a result, Impaq said it has launched a fully catered-for online school for English and Afrikaans speaking learners. This move brings Impaq\u2019s offering full circle in terms of being a distance learning provider in South Africa.<\/p>\n
Admissions to the online school are officially opening on 1 September 2021, with the school set to cater to Grade 7-11 learners in 2022. Plans are in place to expand to other grades from 2023, Impaq said.<\/p>\n
“While Impaq\u2019s traditional homeschooling offering has involved parents having the option to teach their children, the online school will go further by placing children into classes led by highly qualified teachers. The class sizes will be capped at 30 children, and the online school\u2019s teachers will deliver the lessons virtually.<\/p>\n
“Timetables will be a key component of the school and will include structured time to improve fitness and mental wellbeing. Learners will also be encouraged to participate in other activities, such as a robotics club and fitness events. Impaq\u2019s Online School further has a collaboration with the \u2018It\u2019s OK\u2019 mental health app to track and ensure the mental wellbeing of learners.”<\/p>\n
Impaq said that a sophisticated Optimi Learning Platform will monitor children\u2019s educational progress. This online system can help identify gaps in children\u2019s learning and ensure that educational outcomes are tracked and met.<\/p>\n