An online school has come to the rescue of seven matric pupils whose chances of writing the final exams were under threat because they were enrolled at an unregistered school.
The pupils from Legacy House, a private school in Plettenberg Bay in Western Cape, where the monthly school fee is R4,495 a month over 12 months, have now been allowed to write the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) exams after registering at another school known as Praxis Online.
Praxis informed Legacy House last month it will be terminating its relationship with them after discovering the institution was not registered with the Western Cape education department.
One of the terms of the relationship between the two was that Praxis Online would register Legacy House students for the final exams at the nearest registered exam venue.
However, all this would have fallen away after the association ended.
We will do everything we can to try and make them pass the final exams.
— James Moir, a director for Praxis Borderless Learning
But James Moir, a director for Praxis Borderless Learning, which owns Praxis Online, confirmed to TimesLIVE Premium that its principal, who was concerned about the fate of the seven matric students from Legacy House, held discussions with the IEB last Friday.
“This resulted in the matric students from Legacy House being allowed to write the final exams on condition that they become registered students of Praxis Online.”
“They will definitely not be writing at Legacy House because it is not a registered school without accreditation from the IEB.”
Said Moir: “We will do everything we can to try and make them pass the final exams.”
He said they will be charging the seven pupils a monthly fee of R1,500 and will not be levying any registration or assessment fees which they usually do.
The CEO of the IEB, Confidence Dikgole, confirmed to TimesLIVE Premium that the seven students have been allowed to write the final exams as registered students of Praxis Online.
She said it had always been their understanding that these pupils were from Praxis Online, “hence they were registered to write the IEB National Senior Certificate exam this year”.
“When allegations that Legacy House was operating illegally and there were links between it and Praxis Online were brought to our attention, we immediately made it clear to them that we will not allow pupils taught at an illegal school to be registered to write the IEB exams.”
She stated in an email to Praxis Online: “Are these learners registered with you? If they are, then they must be following your programme. We cannot have learners being taught at an ‘illegal’ school.”
Dikgole said Praxis Online investigated and came back confirming they had cut ties with Legacy House.
When allegations that Legacy House was operating illegally and there were links between it and Praxis Online were brought to our attention, we immediately made it clear to them that we will not allow pupils taught at an illegal school to be registered to write the IEB exams.
— The CEO of the IEB, Confidence Dikgole
She said the IEB had given Praxis Online certain conditions and part of it was that in September they will complete an affidavit stating the seven pupils “have met the outcomes for grades 10 and 11”.
“Praxis has to ensure that the learners are ready to complete the examinations.”
Samantha Thomas, MD of Legacy House, said they followed all necessary steps and went through a registration process with the Western Cape provincial education department.
“We have had our site inspection and they are happy with us. We also acquired our health and safety certificate and passed inspection with the department of labour.”
The school’s high school started operating in January last year and, according to its website, offered, among other things, qualified and experienced teachers, no uniforms, no “gratuitous homework” and no more than 12 pupils per class.
Thomas said they had a great relationship with Praxis Online and received a communique from them stating that “our matric learners will be able to write their IEB this year”.
“They are registered to write.”
She said that 100% of the R4,495 monthly fee charged per pupil “goes to pay Sace [South African Council for Educators] qualified teachers”.
“We are a group of highly skilled individuals, who have dedicated our lives to better equip children to learn and succeed.”
Western Cape education department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said they received an inquiry in April about whether the school was registered with them.
“An official went to investigate and discovered that quality teaching and learning is taking place. In such cases we will support the school to apply for registration. Should it be discovered that the school is not offering quality education, we will instruct them to close down immediately.”
She said they requested the school to apply for registration and that the process “is being attended to”.
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