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The Pestalozzi Trust and Ambition International School
Ambition International School has established a partnership with the Pestalozzi Trust, a respected South African non-profit legal trust. The Pestalozzi Trust aims to provide valuable support and resources to homeschooling families and Cottage Schools.
We are pleased to inform you that the cost of joining the Pestalozzi Trust is ONLY R400 per learner per annum. This fee is compulsory for all learners at Ambition International School, ensuring access to the numerous benefits and assistance provided by the trust. The first year’s fee of R400 is included in the joining registration fee (Only applies from July, 2023), and thereafter, all parents will be invoiced annually for these fees.
The Pestalozzi Trust
The Pestalozzi Trust is a South African non-profit organisation that provides financial support and resources to assist homeschooling families and Cottage Schools. It was established in 1992 as a trust fund dedicated to supporting alternative forms of education.
The purpose of the Pestalozzi Trust is to advocate for and support homeschooling as well as Cottage Schools in South Africa. They believe in the freedom of parents to choose and provide quality education for their children in home-based or small-scale educational environments.
The trust works towards its objectives through various means, including:
Legal Support: The Pestalozzi Trust offers legal assistance and representation to homeschooling families and Cottage Schools facing legal challenges related to their right to provide education outside of traditional schooling. They advocate for the recognition and protection of the rights of parents and Cottage Schools within the South African legal framework.
Financial Aid: The trust provides financial assistance to homeschooling families and Cottage Schools to help cover educational expenses. This support can be used for curriculum materials, resources, training programs, and other educational needs specific to homeschooling and Cottage Schooling.
Resources and Information: The Pestalozzi Trust offers resources, guidance, and information to homeschooling families and Cottage Schools. They provide assistance in curriculum selection, teaching methodologies, assessment strategies, and other aspects related to homeschooling and Cottage Schooling. Their aim is to empower parents and educators with the knowledge and tools needed to provide a quality educational experience.
Research and Advocacy: The trust conducts research and engages in advocacy efforts to promote the benefits of homeschooling and Cottage Schooling. They work towards fostering understanding and acceptance within society and the education community, emphasising the unique advantages of alternative educational approaches.
In summary, the Pestalozzi Trust serves as a support system for homeschooling families and Cottage Schools in South Africa. They advocate for their rights, provide financial aid, offer resources and information, and engage in research and advocacy to promote alternative education options. The trust strives to create an inclusive educational landscape that recognises and supports the diverse needs and choices of parents and educators.
FAQ
E-mail: defensor@pestalozzi.org
Telephone: 071 192 6070; 012 330 1337. Please leave a message if all the lines are busy, and we’ll call you back.
Fax: 0866807985
Mail: PO Box 12332, Queenswood, 0121
Facebook: Follow our facebook page: https://web.facebook.com/tuisonderwys/
Mailing list: Join an online discussion form for information and encouragement. To join : send an e-mail to tuisonderwys+subscribe@groups.io.
Cottage schools are not “home schools”. The SA Schools Act specifies that home education only applies where each child is educated in his or her own home.
Cottage schools are schools. Children who are educated at any place other than in their own homes are attending schools – whatever name those institutions choose to use. Note: A school who uses a home schooling curriculum is not a “home school”; it remains a school.
Different laws apply. The laws that apply to schools are different from the laws that apply to home education. For that reason, it is dangerous to confuse the terms.
The only legal cottage school is a cottage school that is a registered independent school. Every institution where children receive their education must be either a state school or a registered independent school. A cottage school that is not registered as an independent school with the relevant provincial education department is an illegal independent school.
Unregistered cottage schools are at risk. The owners and operators of an unregistered cottage school can be prosecuted and upon conviction may be sentenced to a maximum of three months in prison or a fine. Parents who send school-age children to an unregistered cottage school can be prosecuted and upon conviction may be sentenced to a maximum of six months in prison or a fine.
Because there are millions of desperate learners and parents who will do almost anything to find good education for the children. Education departments make it impossible for many schools to get registered.
Long delays in processing applications by education departments. Some schools (with hundreds of disadvantaged learners) have been waiting for registration for years.
Unreasonable restrictions, such as a requirements for minimum numbers of learners. In most provinces, this minimum is 20 learners.
Extremely burdensome administrative requirements that consume resources that are needed to educate children. This applies in the registration process itself as well as in the day-to-day administration of the education. This includes expensive and burdensome “quality control” measures.
If cottage schools that are members of the Pestalozzi Trust are challenged by government officials, the Trust will work together with the school and assist them in solving the issues. Member schools receive an emergency number which is available 24/7, which they use to contact the Trust immediately when they come into conflict with the DBE, Welfare or Police.
Independent schools, including cottage schools, have according to the Constitution the right to exist. This right is very strictly limited in the law. The Pestalozzi Trust supports registered and unregistered member schools to protect their learners’ right to education and to resist intrusions by the state.
“Pestalozzi” refers to the surname of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, a Swiss educational reformer who lived from 1746 to 1827. Pestalozzi is renowned for his innovative contributions to education and is considered one of the pioneers of modern pedagogy. He believed in a holistic approach to education, emphasizing the importance of individualized instruction, hands-on learning, and the cultivation of moral and ethical values. The Pestalozzi Trust, named after Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, embodies his spirit and principles by advocating for alternative education and supporting homeschooling families and Cottage Schools in South Africa.
No, your learners are not being home-educated. Home education is defined as education at the child’s own home. The registration therefore will be turned down, and the parents will have to put back their child into school. In spite of the instructions of some curriculum suppliers, it is foolish to try and register your learners as home learners.
