EduXplore North Expo 2026
Date:
17 October 2026
Categories
Lecture Programme
Activity Program
Categories
In 2026 the following categories will be included:
Home education
Small schools / Cottage schools / Learning centers
Private schools
Curriculum providers
Learning aids
Extracurricular and out-of-classroom activities and field trips
Tertiary Institutions and training
Leap year (Gap Year)
Training opportunities / Qualifications / Courses
Support services etc.
Hobbies
Apprenticeships
Entrepreneur
Sports
Books
Children activities
Matric Options
Lecture Programme
Opening
Welcome
Suzanne Hattingh (YADALearn)
09:00 – 09:30
Panel
Panel Discussion 1: Raising a Whole Child: From Grade K – iMBA
How do we create an educational journey that does not simply get a child through school, but develops the whole person and prepares them for life beyond school?
How can we prepare a child for their whole educational journey and future?
The Educational Journey – From Grade K to iMBA
Children thrive when they’re supported as whole individuals, not just graded. The right guidance and support helps them succeed without boxing them in.
Edgar Lennietch (Educ8)
How can the right support help every child reach their potential?
Supporting the Individual Child
See a child’s potential clearly before deciding what to build around it: start with who the child actually is, adjust the learning around them, bring in help when needed and protect their belief in themselves.
Stephané Burger (Diversio Learning)
Which learning environment best supports the whole child?
Traditional vs Alternative Education
What families can consider when comparing traditional and alternative approaches to education.
Earl Joseph (SA Homeschooling)
How do we find the right balance for each child?
Structure versus Flexibility
The balance between structure, accountability and the flexibility to accommodate individual learners and families.
Panel member to be confirmed (KOA)
09:35 – 10:05
Paneel
Paneelbespreking 2: Aanlyn Leer met ‘n Hart: Verbinding, Vryheid en Toekoms
Hoe maak aanlynleer wêreldwye moedertaalonderrig moontlik?
Rochelle gesels oor MOS Wêreldwyd se leerfilosofie, selfgerigte en lewenslange leer, en hoe tegnologie grenslose moedertaalonderrig moontlik maak. Waar is jou kind in 2040?
Rochelle Kroon (MOS Wêreldwyd)
Hoe hou ons aanlynonderrig persoonlik, geborge en kindgerig?
Malise wys met ‘n praktiese voorbeeld hoe ‘n persoonlike gesprek met ‘n leerder gehelp het om haar uitdagings aanlyn te verstaan, en hoe belangrik persoonlike begeleiding en emosionele veiligheid is.
Malise Visser (Leories Akademie)
Hoe ontwikkel ons die hele kind in ‘n toenemend digitale wêreld?
Mona fokus op werklike ervarings, ontdekking, kreatiwiteit en menslike verbinding, sodat die digitale wêreld ‘n hulpmiddel bly en nie die kind se hele wêreld word nie.
Mona Preller (ALLES Magazine)
10:10 – 10:40
Panel
Panel Discussion 3: Transferable Skills
Title to be confirmed
Summary to be confirmed
Liezel Blom (Evolve)
10:45 – 11:15
Paneel
Paneelbespreking 4: Die Rol van die Pa in die Opvoeding van Sy Kinders – ‘n Bybelse Perspektief
Hoe lyk die pa se verantwoordelikheid deur die verskillende lewensfases van sy kinders?
Greg gesels oor hoe ‘n pa se rol verander soos sy kinders ouer word, en wat die Here hom geleer het oor wat kinders werklik van hulle pa nodig het.
Greg Pereira (Generations – Invested Grandfather)
Hoe rus ‘n pa sy kinders toe vir die werklike lewe daar buite?
Francois gesels oor aktiewe vaderskap: hoe jy jou kinders doelbewus betrek by besigheid, verantwoordelikheid, besluitneming en entrepreneurskap.
Francois du Toit (Invested Father)
Wat het die volgende generasie van hulle pa’s nodig?
Willem kyk terug na sy eie opvoeding en wat jongmense vandag werklik van hulle pa’s nodig het, en watter Bybelse beginsels oor vaderskap hy eendag in sy gesin wil toepas.
Willem van Heerden (Invested Young Married Man)
11:20 – 11:50
Panel
Panel Discussion 5: What Is the Real Struggle to Protect in the AI Revolution?
How can parents protect the “struggle” children need, to learn and grow in an AI world?
Give children space to try, make mistakes and think for themselves before turning to AI. Lenise shows how AI can offer hints while the child remains the thinker and creator.
Lenise De Jager (Home Ed Mom & Founder of MommyAI)
When does AI support learning — and when does it start doing the learning for the child?
Marnus shows how AI can be a powerful tool while still protecting independent thinking, problem-solving and genuine learning.
Magnus Gerber (How to AI – Businesses Implementation of AI)
11:55 – 12:30
Panel
Panel Discussion 6: Eclectic Homeschooling: Do You Need a Curriculum Provider to Homeschool Legally?
What is Eclectic Homeschooling? Can one succeed at it in the primary years?
An out-of-the-box approach: Janet compares eclectic homeschooling to eating at a buffet.
Janet Kieswetter (Homeschool Mom & Kieswetter Klaskamer)
How can one do Assessments and Legally Homeschool the Eclectic Way?
The legal requirements for assessments and assessors, the latest on what the DBE would like to see, and what force the DBE’s expectations have.
Uda de Wet (Pestalozzi Trust)
Can eclectic homeschooling work in high school – and still lead to a successful school-leaving pathway?
How families can stay flexible in the high school years while planning intentionally towards a recognised school-leaving or further-study pathway.
Annerine Wenhold (Kairos Academy SA)
In the early years, how can parents decide what matters most, recognise whether their approach is working, and know when to make a change?
Drawing on 30 years of educational expertise, Thea shows parents how to track progress using the whole brain, the whole family and purposeful play rather than traditional tests.
Thea Lombard (Saintsburg)
12:35 – 13:20
Panel
Panel Discussion 7: It Is Proven: Home Educators Are Better Equipped for Life
3 Veteran home educators share 5 aspects of why this is the case (backed by scientific evidence).
Moderator: Dr Zelda-Mari du Toit (Educational Psychologist)
How can parents use the home-education years intentionally to prepare their children not only for academic success, but for life?
Karen Badenhorst (Dynamis Consultant | Remedial Therapist)
What are the factors that equipped your child for future success that are also scientifically proven as success indicators?
Martie Du Plessis (Dynamis Instituut | Lighthouse360 | Uncapped Education)
According to your research, what are 5 things parents can do that are directly linked to academic success?
Dr Jacqueline Morkel (Curriculum Developer | Education Consultant)
13:25 – 13:55
Panel
Panel Discussion 8: Beyond the Brochure: How Universities Actually Evaluate and Welcome Homeschool Graduates
Clear, practical insight into post-school pathways for homeschoolers: admission requirements, study options and the support institutions offer.
Moderator: Louise Ruthen (Saintsburg)
Topics
- Entry Requirements – How do you assess homeschool qualifications?
- Beyond Academics – How do portfolios and RPL count?
- Bridging the Gap – What if entry requirements aren’t met?
- Campus Transition – How do homeschoolers adapt and thrive?
- Future Ready – How are homeschoolers prepared for work and life?
Panel Members
- Laurika du Bois (Agri Skill Transfer)
- Jeanmarie van Niekerk (Akademia)
- Ervin Odayan (Oakfields College)
- Susan Lotz (Sol-Tech)
- Diandri Greef (Stadio Higher Education)
14:00 – 14:30
Panel
Panel Discussion 9: Educating the Whole Child: Body, Soul and Mind
Access Arrangements, Mental Health, and Neurodiversity
We often hear the term “Access Arrangements”, but many parents only discover them when their child is already struggling. What exactly are Access Arrangements, and who are they designed to support?
Speaker to be confirmed (Tutors & Exams)
How can parents distinguish between the normal stress that comes with school and examinations and signs that a child may need additional mental health support?
Speaker to be confirmed (NeuroMe)
What does a truly neurodiversity-friendly learning environment look like in practice, rather than simply in theory?
Speaker to be confirmed (Vista Clinic Psychiatric Hospital)
14:35 – 14:55
Discussion
Discussion 10: How Can Families Approach Homeschooling with Greater Peace of Mind and Confidence?
Karin van Oostrum (Pestalozzi Trust)
15:00 – 15:30
Panel
Discussion 11: Q&A Session | Testimonies of Young Adults Thriving
Young Adults, who have finished “school” share their experience and journey. Questions from the audience are answered about Alternative Education.
Tipiese “Skool” Was Nie Vir My Nie: Vind Jou Eie Pad
Tuisskool het my die vryheid gegee om my eie pad te volg. Op 17 het ek my GED voltooi en as projekbestuurder gewerk; vandag skeer ek skape in Suid-Afrika, Amerika en Nieu-Seeland.
Janpetrus Steyn, Skaapskeerder, 20 jaar
Genoeg Tyd om te Groei
My leerpad het my tyd gegee om teen my eie pas te groei. Ek was jare agter met Wiskunde, maar vandag, op 18, studeer ek aanlyn Besigheidsbestuur by SACAP.
Janéy Kieswetter, Besigheidsbestuurstudent, 18 jaar
Die Ouer, die Eerste Kurrikulum
In my matriekjaar het ek begin vra wat die Here se plan vir my lewe is, en dit het my na iXchange gelei. Vandag ondersteun ek tuisskoolgesinne en weet ek dat die ouer die eerste kurrikulum in ‘n kind se lewe is.
Anke van der Westhuizen, Uncapped Education Ambassador, 23 jaar
Bou Jou Eie Kurrikulum en Bereik Sukses
Ek het my eie leerpad rondom my belangstellings gebou en op 19 my GED voltooi. Vandag bedryf ek MilliSweet, waar ek skoonheidsprodukte met byewas maak, en boer ek saam met my familie.
Millize Badenhorst, Entrepreneur & Boer, 27 jaar
Title to be confirmed
Story to be confirmed
Hennie Steyn
Activity Program
09:30 – 10:15
Show
Reptile Show
Dudley van Loggenberg, Producate
Start the day with scales and tails. Dudley brings his exotic animals for an interactive show where children learn how reptiles live, eat and protect themselves. Producate’s shows are educational and full of fun, with songs that help the facts stick.
10:20 – 10:40
Talk
Boelie Brak and Sonskyn Tell You More About Bullies
Jolien Mackay
Jolien Mackay introduces Boelie Brak and Sonskyn. Together they help children understand what bullying behaviour is, how it feels and what you can do if you or a friend is being bullied.
10:40 – 11:10
Demonstration
Detection Demonstration
See working sniffer dogs in action. Genesis K9 Group from Pretoria trains dogs and handlers to detect explosives, landmines and drugs, as well as for patrol and tracking work. Their dogs have supported anti-poaching teams in South Africa and Mozambique.
11:10 – 11:40
Talk
What Is an Arachnid?
Dr. Tharina Bird, Ditsong National Museum of Natural History
Scorpions, spiders and whip scorpions are all arachnids, but what makes them family? Dr. Tharina Bird is an arachnologist at the Ditsong museum in Pretoria, home of Mrs Ples. She specialises in sun spiders (Solifugae), and a jumping spider, Pellenes tharinae, is named after her.
11:45 – 12:15
Workshop
Enjoy Reading and Be a Scientist
Karla Cloete, author of Wikus se wetenskaplike dagboek
Karla Cloete’s children’s story Wikus se wetenskaplike dagboek (Human & Rousseau) was a finalist in NB Publishers’ Youth Book Prizes. Wikus keeps a diary to find out why his experiments keep going wrong, from a mechanical dragon at the church bazaar to superhelium and a hot-air balloon race. Through a workshop and an experiment, Karla shows how stories make children curious about science.
12:20 – 12:50
Demonstration
Dissection of Beef Organs
What does an organ look like on the inside? Xperiland cuts open real beef organs and shows how each part works. Xperiland is an Afrikaans science club that offers practical experiments, online classes and a science curriculum for homeschoolers.
12:50 – 13:20
Demonstration
Drama Demonstration
The Helen O’Grady Drama Academy started in Perth, Australia, in 1979 and uses drama to build confidence and communication. The Pretoria and Midrand branch is led by Juliet Jordaan and offers classes for children from three years old to adults. Come and see how a drama class works.
13:20 – 13:50
Show
Alles Fun
Mona Preller, ALLES Magazine
ALLES Magazine is a digital magazine about learning outside the classroom. The name stands for Adventure, Leadership, Lifestyle, Education and Sport, and the magazine connects schools with outings, camps and experiences across South Africa. Mona Preller provides half an hour of fun.
13:50 – 14:05
Demonstration
Rubens’ Tube
Can you see sound? A Rubens’ tube is a pipe with a row of small flames that dance up and down as sound waves move through it. Xperiland shows how the tone changes the pattern of the flames.
14:05 – 14:35
Demonstration
Dance Styles
Carrie-Lee, The Dance Power Academy
The Dance Power Academy in Garsfontein, Pretoria, started in 1986 and has its roots in the Joan Moffitt School of Dancing from 1960. The studio offers tap, modern and contemporary, acrobatics, ballet and hip hop. Carrie-Lee and the dancers show what the different styles look like.
14:35 – 15:15
Show
Reptile Show
Dudley van Loggenberg, Producate
Missed the morning show? Dudley and his reptiles close the day with a second show.
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