Least expensive IEB schools with the best results in 2020
Despite a tenuous academic year and the challenges that the coronavirus pandemic brought, the recently released 2020 National Senior Certificate (NSC) Independent Examinations Board (IEB) results are encouraging. With the outstanding achievements that many IEB schools recorded, some of the least expensive IEB affiliated schools also made the top 5% of the schools with excellent results.
Source: UGC
The IEB is a South African agency that independently assesses students from different client schools, mostly private institutions. The agency sets examinations for the school-leaving National Senior Certificate (NSC) on behalf of its client colleges.
The agency promotes quality teaching and learning in South Africa by conducting an internationally comparable assessment process of integrity and innovation. It contributes to human resource development by designing, delivering, and promoting high-quality, affordable assessment products and services to all sectors. Fully registered IEB schools have access to various professional development opportunities and assessments.
Is IEB internationally recognized?
The agency is recognized internationally. Besides, the main advantage for the students who pass the examinations is that the Ivy League and Oxbridge institutions can admit them without providing further requirements like A-levels.
By implication, the students who seek admission into prominent institutions like Princeton, Brown, Harvard, Edinburgh, NYU, Exeter, Durham, Berkeley, and Melbourne, among others, can enjoy the services the agency offers.
It is noteworthy that the advanced programs that the agency offers include English, Afrikaans, science, and mathematics. UK NARIC has benchmarked these subjects at A level, and UMALUSI (the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Authority) assures they are of quality. The reason is that the subjects have proven invaluable to the students who negotiate degrees, such as engineering and medicine.
Is IEB better than NSC?
The Department of Basic Education regulates how the NSC is run and ensures it follows the guides spelt out in the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). In contrast, the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) operates independently although in line with CAPS.
Both IEB and NSC are certified by UMALUSI. Nevertheless, while IEB is run independently, a learner can get the NSC through the Department of Basic Education or IEB. In terms of international recognition, the South African qualification is equivalent to the UK AS level.
Source: UGC
Although some people claim that the IEB exam is more demanding than the NSC, no tertiary institution in South Africa can distinguish between the NSC and IEB results. This is because all students are exposed to the same curriculum. So, whether IEB is better than NSC or not, the individual needs and capacity should be the main focus.
Less expensive schools in South Africa with good results in the 2020 IEB exam
As published by the IEB, 88.42% of the learners who passed the 2020 exams have achieved an eligible pass needed to study for a tertiary institute's degree program. 8.14% qualified for admission to diploma studies while 1.51% achieved theirs at a higher certificate level.
Among the successful ones, the learners who made it to the top 5% are also from some of the best inexpensive schools. The colleges' names and the level they attained are:
- Trinityhouse High School: Randpark Ridge - two top-performing learners
- Holy Rosary School - three top-performing learners
- Helpmekaar College - six top-performing learners
List of IEB schools in South Africa
There are several IEB schools in South Africa. Schools like St Alban's College, Reddam House, Kingswood College, St John's College, DSG Schools, St Stithian's College, Somerset College, St Andrew's College, and Hilton College are some of the top IEB schools in the country.
Nevertheless, those are not the only IEB schools in South Africa worth attending. While you should bear in mind that there are several of this agency's affiliated institutions in all the nine provinces in South Africa, a list of some of them includes the following:
- Elkanah House, Sunningdale
- Glenwood House, George
- Knysna Montessori School
- Vela School, Mthatha
- Willow Academy, Port Elizabeth
- Woodridge College, Port Elizabeth
- Oakhill School, Knysna
- Reddam House Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Town
- Rylands High School
- Marist Brothers Linmeyer
- Michael Mount Waldorf School, Bryanston
- Midstream College, Midrand
- Pinnacle College Kyalami, Kyalami
- De La Salle Holy Cross College, Victory Park
- Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg
- Deutsche Schule Pretoria
- Epworth High School
- Felixton College
- Grace College
- Grantleigh College
- Hibberdene Academy
- Curro Klerksdorp
- Selly Park High School
- Kitsong Independent High School of The Royal Bafokengg
- Khanyisa Education Centre
- Maseala Progressive, Polokwane
- Mitchell House, Polokwane
- Pepps College, Polokwane
Also, the Tshwane Home Educators Academy and Hatfield Christian Online School are two online IEB schools. Several people have often asked, "is Curro a IEB school?" Well, what Curro schools do is accommodate learners from three months old to Grade 12. At the end of Grade 12, they write the IEB examination.
Source: UGC
What is the difference between CAPS and IEB?
The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) offers examinations for various client schools, especially private ones. They set exams for the school-leaving National Senior Certificate. On the other hand, the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) is an update of the former National Curriculum Statement (NCS). It guides teachers on what to teach and the requirements for assessment.
However, do not forget that the IEB follows the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) system and that it is a theoretical alternative to the NSC examination structure, which the Department of Basic Education oversees. Teachers, parents, students, and universities, both within and outside the country are involved when setting the IEB exams.
Considering the results of the just-released IEB school exams, it is evident that the expansiveness of the college a learner attends is not what matters. Any student who is eager enough can successfully sit for and pass the exam.
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