Matric exams are over, you've survived the stress and angst of parenting an almost fully-grown teenager and not long now, they'll be leaving the roost to pursue a life of their own. You've decided mutually that taking a year off to take a break from studying and discovering what is out there is a good idea. Where do you start?  

When your child reaches high school, they are at an extremely fragile, emotional, physical and social point in their lives. Along with having to contend with an ever-changing and complex curriculum, it may be a surprise to find that statistically, most parents decrease support of their child in their high school academic life.  Sandra Buckingham gives some tips. 

If you find yourself in the position where your child has failed his/her Matric exams, fear not: there are many ways and resources to help them progress academically, be it a rewrite, or a positive step towards another goal. The most important thing to do is to act quickly and have the right information when deciding what to do next. Here is some important information to help you move forward.

In 2012, the South African Department of Education released findings of an alarming number of unregistered schools across all provinces. The law states that all schools (public and independent) must be registered with the Department of Basic Education at national and provincial level. Registration grants the applicant school legal authority to offer basic education and enables it to operate within the law. With nearly 26 000 illegitimate educational institutions identified, the government department prioritized on curbing the practice. The problem still persists, though much has been done to create public awareness of the problem. Hefty fines have been implemented, legislation amended, schools closed and perpetrators have been jailed for creating these bogus schools, which essentially defraud and forge the certificates/qualifications of illegally trained students.    

South Africa is a very dynamic educational space and the government has worked hard towards defining and regulating each type of educational facility. Regulation of pre-schools and creches are particularly problematic, especially ones that have popped up in overcrowded suburbs and townships: most out of sheer necessity but some for illegal financial gain.