Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa
Encyclopedia
The Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA) is the largest association of independent schools in Southern Africa
.
ISASA today is a section 21 company (not for gain), which represents more than 460 independent schools in South Africa
, Botswana
, Swaziland
, Namibia
, Angola
and Mozambique
. Over 120,000 learners attend ISASA-affiliated schools.
Since the collapse of the apartheid state and the advent of democracy in South Africa
, dramatic changes have occurred in the independent (private) school sector. In 1990, there were approximately 550 registered independent schools in the country. The dominant public perception of independent schools at that time was “white, affluent and exclusive”.
– more if primary and secondary schools are counted separately. Over 60% of all independent schools have been established since 1990. The sector now educates more than 400,000 learners, of which 70% are non-white (58% are African). The majority of schools charge fees below R
6 000 per annum. Only 14% of schools charge fees of more than R
20 000 per annum.
Despite an increase in the number of for-profit independent schools, the sector remains overwhelmingly not-for-profit. Most independent schools are also small schools, with 350 learners per school or less. This is partly because so many of them are newly established. The sector serves a wide range of different religions, philosophies and educational approaches across the full socio-economic spectrum. Religious schools, at 43% of sector, are the largest subcategory of independent school.
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
.
History
ISASA traces its origins back to the Conference of Headmasters and Headmistresses formed in 1929, and more recently to the Independent Schools Council, which was dissolved to create ISASA in 1999.ISASA today is a section 21 company (not for gain), which represents more than 460 independent schools in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. Over 120,000 learners attend ISASA-affiliated schools.
Since the collapse of the apartheid state and the advent of democracy in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, dramatic changes have occurred in the independent (private) school sector. In 1990, there were approximately 550 registered independent schools in the country. The dominant public perception of independent schools at that time was “white, affluent and exclusive”.
Present Situation
There are now at least 1290 independent schools in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
– more if primary and secondary schools are counted separately. Over 60% of all independent schools have been established since 1990. The sector now educates more than 400,000 learners, of which 70% are non-white (58% are African). The majority of schools charge fees below R
South African rand
The rand is the currency of South Africa. It takes its name from the Witwatersrand , the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. The rand has the symbol "R" and is subdivided into 100 cents, symbol "c"...
6 000 per annum. Only 14% of schools charge fees of more than R
South African rand
The rand is the currency of South Africa. It takes its name from the Witwatersrand , the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. The rand has the symbol "R" and is subdivided into 100 cents, symbol "c"...
20 000 per annum.
Despite an increase in the number of for-profit independent schools, the sector remains overwhelmingly not-for-profit. Most independent schools are also small schools, with 350 learners per school or less. This is partly because so many of them are newly established. The sector serves a wide range of different religions, philosophies and educational approaches across the full socio-economic spectrum. Religious schools, at 43% of sector, are the largest subcategory of independent school.