When school is no longer working, your child still needs a clear academic path
Shaati provides structured CAPS-aligned distance education for Grades 8–12, with assessments, marking, feedback and academic support — giving your child the freedom to learn outside a traditional school without losing the structure behind their education.
CAPS-aligned
SACAI Registered
Qualified Teachers
SACE Registered Teachers
Sometimes the problem is not your child’s ability. It is the environment around them.
A child can be capable, intelligent and willing to learn — and still struggle in a school environment that simply is not working for them.
It may be ongoing social pressure, conflict with other learners, difficulty with teachers, rigid routines, anxiety around school, or a growing sense that they no longer fit comfortably into the environment they are in.
For many families, the hardest part is not deciding that something needs to change. It is wondering what happens academically if they do.
Changing the environment should not mean giving up structure, standards or a clear path forward.
Change the environment.
Keep the academic structure.
Choosing distance education does not have to mean figuring everything out on your own.
Shaati gives families a structured CAPS-aligned academic system outside the traditional school environment. We provide the academic planning, assessments, marking, feedback and reporting needed to keep your child moving forward — with the level of day-to-day support matched to your family.
For Grades 8–9, we support homeschoolers with curriculum structure, assessments and academic guidance.
For Grades 10–12, Shaati is registered with SACAI as a Distance Education Provider, giving learners a clear pathway through the National Senior Certificate.
Your child can learn differently without losing the structure behind their education.
Choose the level of support that fits your family
Principal
For families who are comfortable managing the learner’s day-to-day schooling, but want a proper academic system behind them.
With Principal, you remain closely involved in managing the learner’s daily work, while Shaati takes care of the academic structure that can otherwise make homeschooling difficult to manage.
We onboard the learner, provide the relevant Annual Teaching Plans (ATPs), textbook lists and teacher guides, and supply and administer the required assessments online.
Assessments are marked, feedback is provided and academic reports are issued so that you have a clear picture of how the learner is progressing.
If a learner is not achieving the required standard, we do not simply leave you with the result. Shaati provides additional support such as revision material, study resources and study schedules to help address the areas where the learner is struggling.
Principal includes:
-
Learner onboarding
-
CAPS-aligned academic planning and ATPs
-
Textbook lists and teacher guides
-
Online assessments supplied and administered by Shaati
-
Assessment marking and feedback
-
Academic reports
-
Additional revision and study support where needed
-
Study schedules and intervention support for learners who are falling behind
In simple terms:
You manage the learner’s day-to-day learning. Shaati manages the academic system behind it.
Essentia
For learners who need more day-to-day structure, accountability and academic oversight.
Essentia includes everything in Principal, but adds a much more active layer of academic management.
Shaati provides daily and weekly assignments based on the learner’s textbooks, videos and other learning material. The learner completes and submits this work, it is marked, and feedback is provided.
Rather than waiting until a formal assessment to discover that a learner has fallen behind, Essentia allows us to monitor their work more consistently and help keep them moving through the curriculum.
Parents also receive periodic progress information so that they are not left wondering whether the work is being completed or whether the learner is keeping pace.
Essentia includes everything in Principal, plus:
-
Daily and weekly prescribed work
-
Textbook-based assignments
-
Videos and supporting learning activities
-
Regular submission of completed work
-
Marking and feedback on submitted assignments
-
Ongoing progress tracking
-
Support to keep the learner on schedule
-
Periodic progress reports to parents
-
Greater accountability throughout the school week
In simple terms:
Shaati provides the academic system and actively helps manage the learner’s academic rhythm.
Need more structure during the school day?
A limited number of learners can attend Shaati’s facility in Northmead, Benoni, where they follow the same Essentia programme under teacher supervision.
This option is designed for learners who benefit from a structured, safe environment during the day while still following Shaati’s distance-education programme.
Places are limited by the physical capacity of the facility.
Contact us to check current availability and applicable fees.
Not sure which level of support your child needs? Tell us a little about your situation and we’ll help you choose.
Already completed Matric?
Matric Rewrite
If you want to improve one or more matric subjects, Shaati can help you rewrite.
Depending on what you need, you can:
-
repeat the subject through Principal
-
repeat it with the additional support of Essentia
-
or, where your previous SBA marks can be retained, use our Rewrite Only option and pay no monthly tuition fees
What does learning through Shaati actually look like?
Distance education works best when everyone understands their role.
Shaati provides the academic structure, assessments, marking and support. The level of day-to-day involvement depends on whether you choose Principal or Essentia.
With Principal
The learner works through the prescribed curriculum using the recommended textbooks and resources, with the family managing the day-to-day study routine.
Shaati provides the academic plan and assessment structure, so you know what needs to be covered and when formal assessments need to be completed.
When an assessment is due, the learner completes it online through Shaati. It is marked, feedback is provided and the results form part of the learner’s academic record and reports.
Where results show that a learner is struggling, Shaati can provide additional revision material, study resources and structured support to help address the problem.
A typical Principal week is therefore flexible: your family decides when and how the daily learning takes place, while Shaati keeps the academic structure, assessment and reporting in place.
With Essentia
Essentia provides a more structured weekly rhythm.
In addition to the full Principal academic system, the learner receives daily and weekly work based on the curriculum, textbooks, videos and supporting learning material.
The learner completes and submits this work to Shaati. It is marked, feedback is provided and progress is monitored so that problems can be identified before they become larger gaps.
Parents receive periodic updates on how the learner is progressing, whether work is being completed and where additional attention may be needed.
A typical Essentia week therefore has more direction and accountability: the learner knows what needs to be completed, Shaati monitors the work, and the parent has greater visibility into how things are going.
In both options
The goal is the same:
Give the learner the flexibility to study outside a traditional school environment without losing academic structure, assessment, feedback or a clear path forward.
Joining Shaati is straightforward
Making a change in your child’s education can feel like a big decision. The enrolment process should not add unnecessary complexity.
1. Tell us about your child
Start with a short enquiry so we can understand the learner’s grade, current situation and the level of support you are looking for.
2. We help you choose the right route
Barend or a member of the Shaati team follows up personally to discuss your situation and help you decide whether Principal, Essentia or another Shaati pathway is the best fit.
3. You receive the relevant fees and information
We explain the applicable package, fees, subject requirements and any documents needed before you enrol.
4. Complete the online application
Once you are comfortable with the route forward, you complete Shaati’s online application and submit the required documentation.
5. We complete the setup and onboarding
Shaati sets up the learner’s academic profile, provides the relevant planning and resources, and guides you through what happens next.
You do not have to work out the process on your own. We will guide you through it step by step.
Clear fees. No need to guess what your child’s education will cost.
Our fees vary according to the learner’s grade, package and subjects, so we keep the complete and current fee structure on one dedicated page.
You can view the full Principal and Essentia fees, together with the applicable registration, assessment and other relevant charges, before making any decision.
Enrol before December and keep today’s fees for 2027
If you complete your enrolment before December 2026, we will freeze the current fees shown on our website for your learner for the whole of 2027.
No manufactured countdown. No temporary price we invented for a promotion. If you enrol before December, the current fee structure is simply the fee structure you keep for 2027.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shaati an online school?
Shaati is a distance-education provider rather than a traditional school that has simply moved its classrooms online. Our learners study from home using a structured CAPS-aligned academic programme. Shaati provides the planning, assessments, marking, feedback, reporting and academic support behind their education. With Essentia, we also provide daily and weekly work, marking and ongoing progress tracking.
Which grades does Shaati offer?
Our high-school distance-education programmes are for Grades 8–12. For Grades 8–9, Shaati provides CAPS-aligned curriculum and academic support for homeschool learners. For Grades 10–12, Shaati is registered with SACAI as a Distance Education Provider and supports learners through the National Senior Certificate pathway.
What is the difference between Principal and Essentia?
With Principal, your family manages the learner’s day-to-day study routine while Shaati provides the academic structure, assessments, marking, feedback and reports. With Essentia, Shaati takes a more active role in the learner’s weekly academic routine. Daily and weekly work is prescribed, submitted and marked, progress is monitored and parents receive periodic feedback. If you are unsure which option would suit your child, speak to us. We will help you work through the difference before you enrol.
Does my child attend live online classes all day?
No. Shaati is designed as distance education rather than a conventional school timetable delivered through a screen. The learner has greater flexibility in when and how the school day is structured. The amount of prescribed day-to-day work and monitoring depends on whether the learner is enrolled in Principal or Essentia.
What does the parent need to do?
That depends largely on the package you choose. Principal requires greater involvement from the family in managing the learner’s daily work and study routine. Essentia provides considerably more day-to-day structure, assignment management, marking and progress monitoring from Shaati. Distance education still requires participation from the learner and support from the family. Our role is to make sure you are not left to build and manage the academic system on your own.
How are assessments completed?
Shaati supplies and administers the required assessments online. Completed assessments are marked, feedback is provided and the results are used to monitor the learner’s academic progress and produce reports.
What happens if my child is struggling academically?
We do not simply issue a poor result and leave the family to deal with it. Where a learner is not achieving the required standard, Shaati can provide additional revision material, study resources, study schedules and other academic support to help address the areas where the learner is struggling.
Can my child join during the school year?
Yes, in many cases learners can move to Shaati during the year. The best route depends on the learner’s grade, subjects, previous academic work and the point in the academic year at which the change is being made. Send us an enquiry and we can look at your child’s particular situation before advising you.
Is Shaati registered?
For Grades 10–12, Shaati Education is registered with the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI) as a Distance Education Provider. For Grades 8–9, we provide CAPS-aligned curriculum and academic support to homeschool learners.
Can my child complete Matric through Shaati?
Yes. Shaati’s Grades 10–12 learners follow the CAPS curriculum through our SACAI-registered distance-education pathway toward the National Senior Certificate. We also assist learners who have already completed Matric and want to rewrite or improve selected subjects.
What if my child has already written Matric and only wants to improve a few subjects?
You do not necessarily need to enrol for a full Grade 12 programme. Matric Rewrite learners can repeat subjects through Principal or Essentia if they need academic support. Where previous SBA marks can validly be retained, our Rewrite Only option can facilitate the final examination rewrite without monthly tuition fees. We will first look at your existing results and circumstances and advise you on the appropriate route.
Where is Shaati based?
Shaati Education is based in Northmead, Benoni, and provides distance education to learners who study from home.
How much does it cost?
Our fees depend on the learner’s grade, package and subjects. Our complete current fee structure is available on the Fees page. Learners whose enrolment is completed before December 2026 will also have the current fee structure frozen for the whole of 2027.
Not sure whether changing schools is the right next step?Tell us what is happening with your child. We’ll help you understand the options before you make a decision.
If the current school environment is no longer working, you do have another option.
You do not need to have every answer before you speak to us.
Tell us a little about your child, their current grade and what is prompting you to consider a change. We will look at the situation with you and help you understand which Shaati route is likely to be the best fit.
Enrol before December 2026 and we will freeze the current Shaati fees for your learner for the whole of 2027.