Now that the smoke from the matric examination results has cleared, following some rather disappointing statistics regarding the proclaimed pass rate versus the actual pass rate, the Department of Education has moved onto its next pressing issue.

In December, Western Cape education MEC Debbie Schäfer declared that the majority of high schools in the Western Cape were already full, and that popular schools had incredibly long waiting lists.

The first week back at school started today, and the problem hasn’t been solved. Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond told The Citizen that they’re “placing learners by the hour” and that “placement will remain a challenge”, especially because they are still “receiving new applications from parents who have either transferred or moved during the holiday period”.

Hammond wasn’t able to give the exact number of students who would most likely be missing their first week of school if they are placed at all. Back to Schäfer:

“Parents may have to wait weeks or even months to find places in schools in the Western Cape, if they do not already have places,” she said at the time.

“While we have planned thoroughly for growth, subject to available budget, we have reached our capacity for the new year. Any new applications will be problematic. This is a difficult message for me to convey. However, this is the reality we are facing.”

The situation is the same throughout South Africa, with reports of “anger and frustration” as parents of learners wait to find out whether or not they’ll be placed at the school of their choosing.

If you’re one of those parents, we can point you in the direction of one quality solution.

The Valenture Institute is a global online private high school that offers an internationally recognised curriculum. The Institute offers South African learners a highly engaging and socially rich learning experience supported by expert tutors and mentors.

Students partake in daily live classes, of no more than 20 people, that are taught by expert teachers. They are also assigned a dedicated mentor who provides one-on-one support to help keep their learning and holistic development on track through bi-weekly calls. Here, students review their progress ahead of a monthly three-way check-in with their mentor and their parents.

There’s more to The Institute, though. They’re dedicated to building and empowering a purpose-driven, global student body and equipping them to make the best of both their individual and collective futures. Valenture learners are actively encouraged to participate meaningfully in solving some of the world’s biggest problems, by participating in SDG Labs, which align with the UN Sustainable development goals.

The carefully constructed curriculum is designed to ensure that your child is receiving an incredibly high level of education – the kind of education that you’d expect from one of the most expensive schools in the country, but at a fraction of the cost.

Here’s an outline of The Institute’s 2019/2020 fee structure:

• R750 Application Fee
• R60 000 per annum for Junior High (Grade 8 & 9)
• R90 000 per annum for International GCSE (Grade 10 & 11)
• R75 000 per annum for International AS-Level (Grade 12)

By way of comparison, a spot at South Africa’s most expensive private school, Hilton College, will set you back R321 000 a year.

If you’d like to know more about The Valenture Institute, visit their website and download their info pack. Once you’ve filled out your email address, and phone number, The Institute will forward you a comprehensive PDF of everything that they offer.

Following that, one of their Admissions Counsellors will give you a call to answer any and all of your questions.

The Institute is accepting new learners until this Friday, January 31, 2020. In short, you better get cracking.

A good high school education is the foundation upon which your child will grow their success in adulthood.

Don’t let them get left behind this year.

[source:citizen]