FAQs

Yes. We are accredited with the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) in South Africa.
The DBE recognises two forms of schooling in South Africa: physical traditional schools and home education. Online schooling, such as Koa Academy, falls under the umbrella of home education because your child is learning from home. Any learner who is under the age of 16 (or up to grade 9) needs to be registered for home learning by the parents directly with the DBE.
When you decide to join Koa Academy, we will provide you with everything you need to register with the DBE. It’s a simple form with some supporting documentation that you email to your provincial representative.
No - you can get started straight away! All you need to keep is a record of your emailed application. There is no consistency in how long it takes for families to get a response, and you are not required to follow up with the DBE.
Yes. According to the Department, someone else is allowed to be the caregiver for your children during the day. This could be a trusted family member, friend, or even a hired tutor. You will know what type of care your child will need during the day.
Our parents are committed to providing a safe and supportive home environment for their children to flourish. This includes helping your child with their executive functioning such as time management. We take care of the academics.

We follow the South African curriculum and conduct our assessments through the Independent Examinations Board (IEB).
We love this… Koa provides every single learner with an individualised timetable that leans into their strengths and suits the family’s rhythms. Some parts of the day are scheduled - such as Pod Connect and live Masterclasses, while the bulk of content is covered independently at the learner’s own pace. Check out our curriculum pages for more details.
We are big believers that assessments should be age-appropriate. In grades 4-9 we work on the principles of ‘mastery based learning’ assessments are ongoing with automatic feedback, and the learner progresses as they master each part of a subject. In grades 10-12 we follow the IEB assessment patterns in preparation for final Grade 12 exams.
All assessments up to the final Grade 12 exams are written online. We use online proctoring so you do not need an in-person invigilator. The final Grade 12 exams are written at a physical IEB school closest to you.
Yes. We publish DBE aligned reports twice a year in the younger grades and every term in the older grades. Parents are also able to communicate and meet with their Pod Teachers throughout the year at bi-termly parent meetings or when needed.
Absolutely. Reach out to us if you need an updated report or confirmation of enrolment letter. But we hope that you love Koa so much you want to stick around for good!

Grade 4-9: R3050 per learner per month.
Grade 10-12: R4065 per learner per month.
Everything. Well, almost everything! We’ve worked hard to make sure that there are as little hidden costs as possible when it comes to your child’s education. So your school fee includes their Koa account, teacher support, academic platforms, textbooks and subscriptions, and everything in between.
Most importantly, you need to pay for your child’s device and Internet. There is also some basic stationery, optional in-person events and the final Grade 12 IEB exam fee. Find out more on our pricing page.
Yes. For larger families, we offer a 15% discount for the third child onward.
No! Start paying only from your first month enrolled. No unnecessary deposits or tie-in periods.

First we consider the child’s age. Next, we like to group the Pods based on geographical location to give children the opportunity to engage face-to-face.
Meaningful relationships take time to form, so we do encourage families to stick to a Pod for a good length of time. However, when it is beneficial for the child, they can switch to a different Pod.
Yes! We are big fans of getting together face to face. So we encourage lots of ‘work dates’ where children from the same Pod - or even different Pods - work together in the same physical space. This is up to our parents to coordinate.
Yes! You are welcome to have someone assisting your child in person. This could be a parent, a caregiver or someone you hire as an additional tutor. Let your Pod Teacher know because our Pod Teachers love to team together with external academic support people.

Maintaining your child’s device and IT is essential to ensure that they are set up for online success. The minimum requirements are as follows:
- A computer or laptop (NOT iPad, tablet or phone) for each child (not shared) which is up to date and reliable.
- 4+ GB RAM and reliable processor with a speed of 1.5GHz or more.
- 11.6 inch or larger screen size (14 inch or larger recommended).
- 70GB of data per month per child (uncapped recommended).
- 10+ mbps reliable Internet connection per person connected in the home. Test your actual Internet speed here: www.speedtest.net
- Webcam and microphone for video conferencing (most devices have these built in).
- Web browser (suggested: Google Chrome).
*Learners in grades 10-12 using a Chromebook will need to purchase a Chrome Education Upgrade licence (approx R880) in order for their textbook and exam applications to function. Our IT team will guide you through the purchase and implementation of the licence.
These items make a big difference in your child’s online experience:
- Backup power supply for WiFi (such as a mini-UPS).
- 21”+ monitor as a second screen.
- Headset or headphones.

Frequently Asked Questions