Homeschooling in South Africa 2027: Costs, Options and the Rules
Homeschooling is legal in South Africa and recognised in law. Under the BELA Act, learners of compulsory school age in Grades R to 9 must be registered for home education with their Provincial Education Department — registration is free, organised by phase, and deemed successful if the department doesn’t respond within 60 days of a complete application. Grades 10 to 12 fall outside the requirement. What has changed for 2027 is the middle ground: structured options that combine a parent-led day with an accredited school’s content, teacher-marked assessments and termly reports, from R800 a month.
Homeschooling is legal in South Africa. Learners of compulsory school age in Grades R to 9 must be registered for home education with their Provincial Education Department under the BELA Act. Teneo now offers two CAPS-based homeschooling options from Grade 4, costing R800 to R2,083.33 a month in 2027.
More South African families are choosing to homeschool — for flexibility, for a child who isn't thriving at school, or for more say in how their child learns. 2027 brings more structured options than ever, including homeschooling built on an accredited school's content. This guide covers how homeschooling works, what the law requires, what it costs, and how Teneo's new options fit.
Is homeschooling legal in South Africa?
Yes. Home education is a recognised form of education under South African law.
The BELA Act, which commenced on 24 December 2024, sets out the registration rules:
Registration is compulsory for learners in Grades R to 9, or until the end of the year the child turns 15
Grades 10 to 12 are outside the requirement
Registration is free
It's organised by phase: Foundation (Grades 1–3), Intermediate (4–6) and Senior (7–9)
If the department doesn't respond within 60 days of a complete application, registration is deemed successful
National guidelines clarifying the process were published on 12 June 2025
What to do: apply to your Provincial Education Department with a complete application, keep dated proof of submission, and diarise the 60-day date. For a January start, apply in October or November.
Homeschooling vs online school: what's the difference?
In online school, the school teaches: lessons are taught by the school's teachers, live or recorded, and the school sets and marks the work.
In homeschooling, the parent guides the learning, using a curriculum or content provider, and decides how teaching and assessment happen.
The line has blurred. Some programmes now combine homeschooling with school-provided content, teacher-marked assessments and reports — which is what Teneo's homeschooling options do.
Teneo's homeschooling options for 2027
New for 2027, from Grade 4. Both follow CAPS, South Africa's national curriculum, in English or Afrikaans, using Teneo's content modules on a schedule.
Without Classes
Teneo's content modules for every subject lesson, with a schedule
Assessments set, marked and moderated by qualified teachers
Termly promotion reports
After-school, teacher-led, subject-specific group tutorials
No classes and no direct teacher messaging
Paid add-ons: the lesson recordings library (per subject), gap detection and personalised academic support, and mastery reports
Without Classes and Reports
Teneo's content modules for every subject lesson, with a schedule
No classes, teacher messaging, marking, reports or tutorials
Paid add-on: the lesson recordings library (per subject)
In IEB Grades 4 to 9, prior-year assessments with memorandums are included; there are no assessments in Grades 10 to 12
Both are available as a full curriculum or single subjects. See how each option compares.
How much does homeschooling cost in South Africa?
It depends on the approach. Families who build their own curriculum spend mainly on books and materials. Families using a structured programme pay programme fees.
Teneo's 2027 homeschooling fees, monthly (annual):
Grades 4 to 6
Without Classes: R1,333.33 (R16,000)
Without Classes and Reports: R800 (R9,600)
Grades 7 to 9
Without Classes: R1,750 (R21,000)
Without Classes and Reports: R1,050 (R12,600)
Grades 10 to 12, IEB
Without Classes: R2,083.33 (R25,000)
Without Classes and Reports: R1,562.50 (R18,750)
Grades 10 to 12, SACAI
Without Classes: R1,666.67 (R20,000)
Without Classes and Reports: R1,250 (R15,000)
Registration: once-off, R750 for Without Classes and R500 for Without Classes and Reports.
Single subjects start at R145 a month. See the full 2027 fees.
Budget also for: textbooks and stationery, a computer, an internet connection, and — most of all — the parent's time.
What does a homeschooling parent do?
More than in online school, and more with some options than others.
With Without Classes: you guide the day, keep your child to the schedule and help with the content modules. Teneo's teachers set and mark the assessments, report each term, and run group tutorials where your child can get help.
With Without Classes and Reports: you guide the learning and manage assessment yourself. Teneo provides the content and the schedule.
Be realistic about time. Homeschooling works best when an adult is available during the learning day — especially in Grades 4 to 7.
Can homeschoolers write matric?
Yes. Homeschooled learners can write the National Senior Certificate through the IEB or SACAI, the Umalusi-accredited exam boards, and receive the same NSC as any other learner.
What matters for matric:
School-Based Assessment counts towards the final NSC mark, so Grades 10 to 12 need assessment that the exam board accepts
Without Classes includes teacher-set and teacher-marked assessments; Without Classes and Reports doesn't include assessments in Grades 10 to 12
Exam board fees apply in Grade 12, and on SACAI from Grade 10
Final examinations are written in person at a registered centre
Confirm the matric route for your child with admissions before Grade 10. See Teneo's accreditation.
Who homeschooling suits
It tends to suit families where:
A parent can guide learning day to day
The child is reasonably self-motivated
Flexibility matters — for travel, sport, health or family reasons
Cost is a major factor, and parent time can replace teacher time
Online school may suit better if:
No adult is available during the day
Your child needs a teacher to explain new work
You want a teacher your child can message directly
You want built-in gap detection and academic support
Common homeschooling mistakes
Underestimating the parent's time. Even with good content, someone has to keep the day moving. Plan who that is before you start.
No schedule. Homeschooling without a routine drifts. A fixed start time and a weekly plan matter more than the curriculum.
No outside check on progress. Without teacher-marked assessment, it's easy to miss gaps until they're large. Build in regular assessment from someone other than the parent.
Leaving matric planning too late. Assessment in Grades 10 to 12 counts towards the NSC. Decide the route before Grade 10.
Skipping registration. For Grades R to 9, registration with the Provincial Education Department is a legal requirement.
Moving between homeschooling and online school
Teneo's five learning options sit on one platform, so families can choose the level of teaching support that fits. Learning options can be changed in the first term of the school year, by form, before the monthly cut-off.
A common pattern: homeschooling in the primary years, moving to an online school option for Grades 10 to 12, when subjects become more specialised and assessment counts towards matric.
How to start homeschooling in 2027
Decide the approach — your own curriculum, a structured programme, or a homeschooling option with teacher-marked assessments
Register with your Provincial Education Department for Grades R to 9 — apply early and keep proof
Choose the programme and check what it includes, especially assessment and reports
Plan the learning day — space, schedule and the adult who'll guide it
Plan for matric early if your child is approaching Grade 10
Talk to Teneo's admissions team about which option fits your child — contact admissions, or see primary school and high school by grade.
Frequently asked questions
Is homeschooling legal in South Africa? Yes. Under the BELA Act, learners in Grades R to 9 who are home educated must be registered with their Provincial Education Department. Registration is free.
How much does homeschooling cost in South Africa? It varies by approach. Teneo's homeschooling options cost R800 to R2,083.33 a month in 2027, depending on grade, option and exam board, plus a once-off R500 or R750 registration.
Does Teneo offer homeschooling? Yes, from Grade 4 in 2027: Without Classes, with teacher-marked assessments, reports and group tutorials, and Without Classes and Reports, which provides content modules on a schedule.
Do I need to register my homeschooled child? For Grades R to 9, yes — with your Provincial Education Department under the BELA Act. Grades 10 to 12 are outside the requirement.
Can a homeschooled child get a matric certificate? Yes, by writing the National Senior Certificate through the IEB or SACAI. Assessment in Grades 10 to 12 counts towards the final mark, so confirm the route with your provider before Grade 10.
Can I homeschool only some subjects? Yes. Both of Teneo's homeschooling options are available as single subjects, from R145 a month.
What's the difference between Without Classes and Without Classes and Reports? Without Classes adds assessments set and marked by Teneo's teachers, termly reports and after-school group tutorials. Without Classes and Reports provides Teneo's content modules on a schedule only.
Rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with your Provincial Education Department and Teneo's admissions team.