Process for recognition of distance education (including online) education institutions by the IEB
Background
The IEB has received a number of Expressions of Interest from distance/online education institutions as well as institutions interested in operating under a hybrid model. Existing traditional schools registered with the IEB for the NSC examinations who wish to follow a hybrid model of delivery are not included in this initiative and simply continue to operate, using whichever delivery mode it considers appropriate.
While there has been a statement from government that online schools are acceptable, there is as yet, no formal registration or accreditation process required by the authorities. By the same token the IEB is reluctant to bring institutions into the fold, where there has been no process of registration to check the minimal requirements to operate effectively and re-assure prospective learners and their parents that the institution is not a “fly-by-night” institution and has at least a minimum set of principles, policies and processes in place.
Distance Education Institutions that wish to offer the NSC through the IEB
Institutions that join the IEB in order to write the NSC examinations with it, do so with their Grade 10 learners. The IEB has a registration fee of R5 649 (as at 2021). In the case of traditional schools, that fee covers the support that the IEB professional and administrative staff provide to IEB-registered educational institutions:
to orientate them to the IEB requirements
to keep them informed of changes to policies and processes, events and other relevant information in respect of the IEB
to provide guidance and support, as appropriate
to respond to queries
For those institutions that are distance education (including online) educational institutions that wish to be registered with the IEB for the NSC examinations, the IEB does require a formal application process to cover initial compliance checks that we believe enable us to make a better decision as to whether the institution should be affiliated to the IEB in any way. There is a non-refundable application fee of R10 000.
The application process is not an evaluation of the institution’s quality of teaching and learning but rather a process to determine whether it has the minimum professional and administrative requirements to operate. It is a process for the IEB to be assured that the institution has the capacity to teach and assess the NSC curriculum and manage the conduct of site-based assessment, practicals and orals as necessary.
The institutions will be required to apply for registration and accreditation when the authorities determine and publish those processes.
The aspects that will be reviewed in the application process are as follows:
Registration as a company that can operate in the country and the financial sustainability of the institution.
The contact details (including the responsible persons, addresses as relevant, emails, website addresses, telephone) the head office, any examination venue(s).
Human resources and appropriate technology.
Process for development of learning material, assessment, marking i.e., criteria for the employment of these people, full-time, part-time etc.
A functional system for the delivery of learning and assessment via distance learning.
The accommodation of learners with disabilities in the system e.g., hard of hearing, visually impaired.
Accommodation of learners with limited technical skills, poor access to a stable internet connection.
The management of assessment, in particular, guaranteeing the authenticity of SBA.
Administration and learner records*.
Learner management including the following:
Access to the institution e.g., baseline testing for access and/or for placement.
Learner access to catch-up programmes.
Learner support for work currently being taught.
Management of sickly learners, learners who are away often e.g., at sporting events, through illness.
Once an institution has met these compliance requirements and has been accepted by the IEB, the annual IEB registration fee will apply.
Distance Education Institutions that wish to be affiliated to the IEB at levels below Grade 10
This application process will also apply in respect of distance (including online) education institutions that are not yet at Grade 10 but wish to be registered with the IEB. The registration fee that is levied annually on psi-registered schools, will also apply. psi-registered schools are schools affiliated to the IEB that operate at Grade 9 and below.
Please send an email of Expression of Interest with your contact details to assess@ieb.co.za.
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