The Association of Independent Schools of South Africa (ISASA) is the largest association of independent schools in South Africa and the South African region.
ISASA School Finder is a free listing service designed to help a parent and her ISASA school list and compare services, curricula and detailed school information. Use the search tools above to do a comparison or a quick keyword search to get detailed information about schools available in your area of choice.
What is an independent school?
There are two categories of schools in South Africa: public and independent. Public schools are state controlled and independent schools are privately governed. Prior to 1996, independent schools were known as private schools. Ex-Model C schools are not independent but public schools. The Constitution guarantees independent schools the right to exist, but they are required to be registered with their provincial education department to operate legally, may not discriminate on the basis of race, and must provide education that is not inferior to that of comparable public schools. The state provides subsidies to only non-profit low-fee and mid-fee independent schools that serve disadvantaged communities. What is the nature of the sector? Apartheid took away the universal right of parental choice of education from all South Africans. However, our democracy restored this and the independent school sector has grown and changed significantly. • Rapid growth: Official figures are an undercount, but experts estimate that in 2017 there are 2 500 or more registered primary and secondary schools, a significant increase from 518 in 1994.
Today independent schools make up some 7,2% of the schooling sector in South Africa. Growth in enrolment has also been dramatic: between 2000 and 2016 the number of pupils in independent schools more than doubled from 256 283 to 590 352 (4,4% of all pupils). • Huge post-apartheid shift: Whereas in the early 1990s, the sector consisted of predominantly white, traditional high-fee schools, today official figures show that the majority of learners are black (77%) and most schools are either mid-fee, or low-fee ones that serve disadvantaged communities. • Increasing choice: The range of schools continues to increase, given the parental demand for “more better and different” independent schools: “more”, because they are needed in areas where there are no government schools; “better” because of the desire for quality education; and “different” because there is an increasing demand for values-based education and alternative philosophies. The sector now serves a wide socio[1]economic spectrum. Because such a range of fee levels is available, there are more options for parents who prioritise education in their budgets and want quality education with a strong values-base.
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