“Sports Are a Huge Thing”: Australian Mom Shares Differences Between Mzansi and Aussie Schools

• An Australian mother raising two children in South Africa shared major differences in schooling online
• Major adjustments included earlier and shifting start times, going barefoot, and school sports culture
• South Africans praised the emphasis on manners, respect, and outdoor freedom in local schools
• Briefly News reached out to Louisa MacQueen, who shared her fascinating insights into the cultural differences between Australian and South African schooling systems

An Australian expat living in South Africa has sparked an engaging online discussion after sharing the major differences she noticed between the Australian and local school systems. The mother of two posted a video on her Facebook account, Louisa in Africa, on 13 October 2026 outlining what shocked and impressed her about South African schools. Her insights resonated strongly with local and international parents alike.

Adjusting to daily schedules and barefoot culture

Having grown up in Australia, Louisa explained that her home country follows a strict, predictable daily schedule from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm across all grades. In contrast, South African schools start much earlier—around 7:30 am—and feature varying daily timetables depending on the grade, which took her a long time to navigate. She also pointed out that local children routinely kick off their shoes the moment they arrive at school, whereas Australian pupils are required to keep footwear on all day.

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Beyond uniforms and schedules, she highlighted the massive difference in sporting culture and discipline. In South Africa, inter-school sports events and parental attendance create an intense, spirited atmosphere. In Australia, serious sports participation typically occurs through private weekend or after-school clubs rather than school-hosted leagues. Despite the high pressure on local pupils to perform academically and behaviourally, Louisa commended South African schools for instilling good manners, respect, and personal presentation.

Watch the explanatory Facebook reel below:

Louisa reflects on adapting to South African school culture

The Briefly News team caught up with Australian expat Louisa MacQueen following her viral video detailing her experiences raising children in Mzansi.

We asked what has been the single biggest adjustment for her kids when switching to the South African school routine. Louisa clarified that the shift was actually more of an adjustment for her as a mother:

"My children were actually both born in South Africa, so they haven’t experienced the Australian schooling system firsthand. However, having grown up in Australia myself, I’ve noticed some fascinating differences! One of the biggest differences for me has been how early the school day starts here, along with the emphasis on school uniforms, traditions and extracurricular activities from a young age. It’s been quite an adjustment for me as a parent, rather than for my children!"

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The team asked how other expat parents or locals have reacted to her video since sharing these observations; Louisa noted how much she enjoyed the widespread engagement online:

"The response has been incredible! I’ve loved reading through the comments and hearing so many different perspectives. A lot of South Africans have shared their own schooling experiences, while Australians and other expats have been surprised by some of the differences. What I’ve found particularly interesting is how strongly people feel about the schooling systems they grew up with. It’s sparked some wonderful conversations about education, culture and what we value when raising our children."

When asked what aspect of South African school culture she has come to appreciate the most as a parent, Louisa highlighted the rich community spirit surrounding local school activities:

"One of the things I’ve come to appreciate most about South African schools is just how enormous a role sport and school spirit play in the school community! Growing up in Australia, I never experienced school sport quite like this. Here, entire families turn up to sporting events, parents and children cheer each other on, and there’s such an incredible sense of pride and excitement when schools compete against one another.

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I love how these events bring the whole school community together. It’s not just about the children playing sport, but about creating friendships, supporting one another and building a real sense of belonging. It’s something that genuinely surprised me when I became a parent in South Africa, and it’s now one of my favourite aspects of the schooling culture here! Of course, both countries have their strengths, and I think there’s so much we can learn from one another!"

South Africans react to expat's school comparison

Social media users praised the local education system for fostering grounding habits and strong values in young pupils. Commenters noted that going barefoot builds immunity and groundedness, while agreeing that respect and discipline remain crucial hallmarks of Mzansi's school environment.

@Naretha Bornman said:

"Only grades 1 to 3 are allowed to go barefoot. My daughter loved it."

@Claire Webb added:

"Barefoot, really? Never seen it. Not in KZN when I lived there, nor here in Cape Town. Very interesting though."

@Leslie Le Roux shared:

"Private school, I suppose."

@Anne Brawley commented:

"Great grounding for them! They’ll have wonderful immune systems."

@Munnik Nieuwoudt wrote:

"Being respectful and having manners is a good thing. We try to raise our children that way."

@Stefanie Ross Cantzler said:

"Sports are a huge thing, and that's why our rugby is amazing despite all the other things going on here."

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3 Briefly News school-related articles

• A local woman inspired social media users after sharing her brave decision to drop out of university and return to high school to raise her marks to qualify for a dental surgery degree.
• An Eastern Cape pre-primary school shared a cute video of its young learners dressed in Springbok gear proudly singing the national anthem together, filling South Africans with pride and warmth.
• St Stithians College school fees were officially released, showing annual tuition costs of up to R190,000 for high school day learners and R350,000 for boarders, sparking a massive online debate.

Source: Briefly News