Online Degrees in South Africa, Online Universities in South Africa


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Online Degrees in South Africa
Education system in South Africa has come a long way since the end of apartheid. Today, the literacy rate in South Africa is 86% which is very good considering the troubles in education system suffered during the 1980’s when most of the students were indulged in strikes against anti-apartheid regime. History of modern education in South Africa goes back to the late seventeenth century when Dutch Reformed Church started the biblical instruction. Teachers also called meesters in South Africa taught basic literary and mathematics skills in the rural area. Towards the nineteenth century London Missionary Society started its operations in Cape Colony. There have been many ups and down in the education system in South Africa because of apartheid and other social and racial issues. After the end of apartheid the education system in south Africa was completely restructured and is one of the best not only in the African continent but is valued across globe. South African government gives much importance to education and spends 20% of its budget on education. When it comes to online education, South Africa is no exception and has adapted to the new technological advancements very quickly. Lately, South Africa has become a major economy in the world and is developing rapidly. At the same time it has also become a major destination for students not only from the African continent but also from all over the world for pursuing online education programs and degrees from its prestigious universities offering online degrees in various fields. There are many universities and colleges in South Africa, which offer online degrees and education programs open to students of all age groups and from any where in the world. SAIDE (South African Institute for Distance Education) Johannesburg based non-government organization called SAIDE or South African Institute for Distance Education, has been involved in promoting innovative conventional and distance education methods since 1992 not only South Africa but entire Sub-Saharan and southern African regions. Aims and Strategies of SAIDE SAIDE strategies include advocating and facilitating the changes in the current conventional education practices by assimilating technology into their education teaching programs and methods so as to make the basic and higher education accessible and affordable for masses. SAIDE also assists also education providers in South Africa and other southern African countries develop professional efficiencies of their staff. Online Education and Degrees in South Africa In contrast to on-campus educational courses, the virtual classrooms of the universities and colleges are attended by students with a wide range of backgrounds, races and cultures thereby enabling them to interact and discuss the concerned subjects. This type of interaction helps the students to assimilate the best of knowledge available, which till recently the students with humble backgrounds and black societies of South Africa could only dream of. Huge reduction in administrative and other costs has made these online degrees in South Africa have made distance education in the online format a viable alternative to conventional education programs.