All about education 2022

Help get your child ready for grade one
The foundations of learning start at birth, and school readiness cannot magically be achieved in Grade R, said Monica Stach, chairperson of the National Early Childhood Development Alliance. Children grow up in an unequal society, where access to quality play-based early learning is not readily available.
Most children in South Africa do not attend ECD programmes before entering formal schooling, but are taken care of at home. That’s why parents play a significant role in the child’s readiness for school.
“Children are emotional beings, needing stable, caring and nurturing relationships with the primary caregiver, usually the mother. Fathers, siblings and extended family members all play a role in the child’s emotional development. Building positive self-esteem through encouragement and acknowledgment of things the child can do is essential,” said Stach. “The child’s self-esteem and self-confidence impact emotional readiness for school.
Children need to learn how to control their emotions. If they feel angry, time should be taken to explore why they are angry, and how they can deal with their anger, etc. Parents modelling how to deal with anger, sadness, and uncertainty play a massive role in helping children learn to regulate their emotions.”
School is physically demanding, and children need physical activity to develop their muscles. She suggested running, jumping and kicking a ball to develop large muscles, and playing with clay, transferring small objects such as rice to a container, and learning to use scissors to build hand muscles and improve hand-eye co-ordination.
“Children are social beings. They need to interact, talk and play with other children in their environment. Show your children how to share toys, wait their turn and make friends,” said Stach.
The ability to communicate and express what they need, feel or think is essential. “Every second of every day, children’s language is being developed. They need to learn new words and should be encouraged to ask questions, speak and hold a conversation,” said Stach.


What is a study loan and how does it work?

When it comes to funding tertiary education, it pays for students and their parents to research their options – and to start saving early on. When you think about university or tertiary education, the first things that might come to mind are the freedom of finishing high school and a party-filled student life. However, before the next chapter of a young person’s life can start, you have to figure out how you are going to pay for it. You would be wise to consider a student loan over a personal loan, because they are tailored to students, whereas personal loans are broader and for general purposes.
Tips to help parents save for their child’s education:
- Start saving today
- Speak to a financial adviser about education plan options
- Consider which institution you want your child to attend and establish the fees payable
- Use extra income, such as a bonus, to pay off fees early for a possible discount
- Have a long-term budget.
Good to know:
1) Repayment plans With a study loan, the monthly payment is the interest on the loan, not the core amount. You may also be given the option of only starting to repay the money after you graduate. In most cases, you will be given a six- to 12-month grace period to find a job. With personal loans, payments start immediately.
2) Interest rates These are much lower on student loans than personal loans. What you are going to study and when, affects the interest rate of your loan.
3) Understand the terms and conditions The red tape differs from one bank to another. For example, some banks only allow student loans to be taken in the name of the student, while others allow loans to be taken out in the name of parents or sponsors.
4) Surety When a loan is taken out in your name, you will probably need a parent or a sponsor to sign that they will stand surety (make the necessary payments if you cannot). This is often required when the student is not yet employed. Surety is a legally binding agreement, so ensure the person who signs this can indeed cover the costs. According to research by credit bureau TransUnion, released in April 2021, 44% of people whose income dropped as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic were unable to repay their student loans.
5) Beware Make sure your lender is registered with the National Credit Regulator oris a reputable financial institution.
6) Financial aid Before applying for a student loan, exhaust all other options, such as grants, bursaries and scholarships. The government’s National Student Financial Aid Scheme can be applied for if your joint gross household income is less than R350 000 a year. Gross means the amount that you earn before deductions.
Documents needed when applying for a student loan:
- South African ID
- Proof of address
- Proof of registration
- Latest pay slip of the person who will sign surety
- A three-month bank statement
- Proof of tuition fees