What Do Parents Really Want From Their Child’s Education?


Please share this article

Advertisement


Most parents are looking for safe school environments where their children can learn and thrive. But for many, the expectations go beyond academic scores and subject choices. Underlying these basics of what we expect from schooling, are deeper aspirations that include their child’s social and emotional development, as well as the hopes that through their educational and school community experiences, our children will find opportunities to discover, explore and hone their interests and aptitudes


Advertisement i


In essence, as parents what we want most is that our children are building the skills and the mindset needed to navigate an ever-changing world.

Mark Anderson, Principal and Co-founder of Koa Academy, South Africa’s leading high-engagement online school says, “At Koa Academy, we don’t believe these deep aspirations for our children should be left to chance or assume they will be realised by default. Instead, we’ve distilled these deeper desires into key principles that guide how we teach and engage with learners.

Everything we do - from our teaching methods to our school structure and values - is intentionally designed to help learners prepare for a meaningful, successful life.” Every year many South African families have decisions to make about their child’s schooling. Beyond asking the standard questions about what a new school has to offer academically, it helps for parents to also assess whether the school is likely to deliver on those crucial, deeper aspirations they have for their child.

Prioritising soft skills

Parents increasingly recognise the importance of soft skills in helping their children succeed. Skills such as creativity, critical thinking, empathy, communication, and problem-solving are vital. While hard skills like technical knowledge are valuable, they’re easier to acquire than the ability to handle complex situations or build meaningful relationships. The job market agrees: LinkedIn reports that soft skills are the top priority for over 80% of specialised roles on their platform.

Mark says, “Of course, strong academics and specialised content knowledge are essential in school. But that should not come at the expense of those transferable, relevant skills which we so often undervalue in high school education. These skills are not only essential for a strong academic education, but also for navigating a multifaceted world, making wise personal decisions, building healthy friendships and much more. This is why at Koa Academy, we ensure that opportunities for the development of soft skills are woven into every part of the learning journey, empowering learners to thrive in a variety of environments.”

Building strong foundations

Modern education shouldn’t just be about memorising facts and repeated testing. It’s about uncovering the underlying concepts of learning that cut across all content areas. For example, writing an essay in History isn’t just about remembering dates and events - it’s a powerful tool for learning to think critically and problem-solving. By focusing on the “why” behind learning, learners discover how to apply knowledge meaningfully in real-life situations. This approach helps them see the bigger picture, making their education more relevant and impactful.

Nurturing lifelong learners

A love of learning is one of the greatest gifts a school can offer. Lifelong learners actively seek opportunities to grow and improve, anywhere and anytime. This mindset not only sets learners up for academic success but also helps them adapt to an ever-evolving world.

Mark says, “Both the school and home environments are places to encourage young people to develop as lifelong learners. This means cultivating healthy learning habits and routines, supporting personal interests that spark curiosity and passion, setting realistic goals to help children envision their futures, surrounding learners with mentors and peers who inspire growth and seeing mistakes as valuable feedback, not failures.”

An individualised approach to learning

No two children are the same, yet mainstream schooling most often ‘teaches to the middle’, catering to the non-existent ‘average learner’.

Mark explains, “For schools to meet the demands of the modern world, teacher paced learning needs to be replaced by mastery-based learning. Teacher paced learning is when the whole class moves at the same pace as the teacher. Everyone learns the same content at the same time, whether or not it suits them. This is so prevalent in mainstream education, that we assume it’s how schools have to work."

But it’s not! With mastery-based education, each learner can work through the subject content independently and out of sync with the other learners in the class. They move onto the next section as and when they master the previous section. The teacher then becomes a facilitator of individual learning journeys, rather than trying to dictate the learning pace. When a learner understands content, they are able to move through it more quickly. When they are stuck they can slow down a bit. It also means that there are far fewer learning gaps in the higher grades.

Aligning education with your values

When choosing a school, parents should consider their values and what they truly want for their child. A great school isn’t just one that ticks traditional boxes but one that prepares learners for a world where success means adaptability, creativity, and resilience.

I encourage all parents to think critically about what they really value when it comes to their child’s schooling. We should avoid assumptions that we know what we want from our child’s school by default, or because of our own experience of school years ago, or especially because of what ‘the Joneses’ want. Find a school that aligns with your family values, with a firm eye on what is really important when it comes to setting your child up for success in today’s world.

 

Suggested Article:

Koa Academy Afrikaans Virtual Campus

Koa Academy, South Africa’s leading high-engagement online school has announced that it is opening Koa Akademie in January 2025. The new Afrikaans home language virtual campus is a first for South Africa, offering Afrikaans-speaking families a unique choice when it comes to their children’s education.






Online Shopping Links

Loot - Takealot - Temu - Amazon - Shein





Advertisement


WhatsApp Channel

Sponsored Ad

Advertisement

Advertisement

Google News

Post-Matric Options

 

We helped you with past papers for your matric exams, so hopefully you are happy with your Matric results. So now you are faced with a lot of post-matric options that can shape your future paths. You might want to study law, teaching, or nursing. Of course studying is expensive so we have helpful advice about student loans, NSFAS bursaries, Fundi loans, ISFAP, and lots of other funding options.

These options range from pursuing higher education at universities , TVET Colleges or  private colleges, finding student accommodation, entering vocational training programs (like Learnerships and internships), joining the workforce, or even starting your own business. There are so many choices but we are here to help.

Advertisement


Latest SASSA articles

The R370 grant is aimed at assisting unemployed adults living in South Africa. Here's the R370 grant eligibility criteria.. 

Knowing when you social grant will be paid is extremely helpful as it allows for planning. Here's a guide on how to find you Sassa grant payment dates. 

Where to Study


Advertisement m


Other Articles

ADvTECH is a top education group in South Africa, offering job opportunities in schools, tertiary institutions, support offices, and recruitment services. If you want to work for ADvTECH, the application process is simple and can be done online. Read more for a step-by-step guide on how to apply.


Advertisement


Latest SASSA articles

The R370 grant is aimed at assisting unemployed adults living in South Africa. Here's the R370 grant eligibility criteria.. 

Knowing when you social grant will be paid is extremely helpful as it allows for planning. Here's a guide on how to find you Sassa grant payment dates. 


Advertisement


Careers Advice

ADvTECH is a top education group in South Africa, offering job opportunities in schools, tertiary institutions, support offices, and recruitment services. If you want to work for ADvTECH, the application process is simple and can be done online. Read more for a step-by-step guide on how to apply.


Advertisement i