We are all sheltering inside our homes as a result of the pandemic, creating a new global order. The pupils are currently continuing their Homeschooling for two years. Read the below article if you’re interested to learn more about homeschooling in India.

Is it legal to homeschool in India? is still a question that both parents and students frequently ask. Before we immediately answer your question, let’s first discuss the homeschooling environment in the nation.

The Education of school-aged children at home or in a variety of locations other than a school is referred to as homeschooling, sometimes known as at-home education or elective home education (EHE).

Many homeschooling families use less formal, more personalized, and more personalized learning methods that are not necessarily found in schools, usually led by a parent, tutor, or online teacher. Homeschooling might seem very different in practice. 

The spectrum includes more open, free forms like unschooling, which is a form of homeschooling free of lessons and curriculum, as well as highly structured forms based on regular school classes. 

Homeschooling allows parents to manage their children’s education from the comfort of their own homes. Through hybrid homeschooling, it may be possible to combine the benefits of parent-driven learning with those of traditional educational settings. 

Every parent wants to give their children the greatest education possible, one that will get them ready for college, a job, and life. That’s not always possible in a traditional public education system. Homeschooling is a great educational choice that puts millions of children on the path to success. 

Does India Allow Homeschooling? 

The Indian government acknowledges the “RIGHT TO EDUCATION” of every kid and supports all advancements. Homeschooling and online learning are not viewed by the Indian legal system as violating any of the RTE 2009’s clauses or provisions. Homeschooling is therefore permitted in India!

In India, parents have the option to oversee their child’s education from the convenience of their own homes by homeschooling. This indicates that the kid isn’t going to a real school. but continues to study at home under parental supervision. 

Families switch to homeschooling for a variety of reasons. However, these are frequently linked to problems with our conventional educational models or the unique learning requirements of the child.

What Are the Various Learning Methods Used in Homeschooling? 

Homeschoolers mainly learn in one of two methods. The other relies on child-led learning, while the former uses a curriculum. The majority of homeschoolers fall somewhere in the middle or alternate between the two methods.

Adhering to a curriculum

Many parents who are dissatisfied with education yet feel compelled to learn areas that are typically taught in schools do so by using age-appropriate textbooks or other online curricula. 

Others design their curricula depending on the interests of the student and incorporate any content they see fit, from DIY project kits to Wikipedia, from classic literature to classes with subject matter experts. Maybe something very different.

Children will utilize the suggested texts to prepare for board exams if they wish to continue to be eligible for higher education.

Unschooling or child-led learning 

The word “unschooling” highlights the absence of structure in a child-led learning environment. There is no other learning agenda for unschoolers than the children. To encourage the child’s learning, parents and other adults should assist the youngster in discovering new interests and pursuing those interests as much as they can.

According to the principle, a child would experience learning opportunities or issues based on what will be the most beneficial to them, and this will also serve to motivate them to learn. The autonomy of the child is strongly emphasized and is, to the best of our ability, respected

Radical unschoolers believe that children should have complete control over every area of their lives, including their diets and bedtimes.

Advantages of Homeschooling 

Homeschooling offers the room and freedom to develop and nourish a child’s potential in the face of the conventional education system’s increasing rigidity and intolerance. Here are a few advantages of homeschooling that you need to be aware of:

1.   It enables parents to personalize their child’s academic education, enhancing their talents.
2.   The child has a better grasp and their conceptual underpinnings are stronger as a result of the teacher paying more attention to detail.
3.   The child can grow at their rate without needless hurrying if the requirements of the child are considered and milestones can be set.
4.   It gives one the flexibility and freedom to discover their passion and pursue excellence in it.
5.   Works well with all types of students, even “Special” kids.
6.   For many shy and impressionable children, a classroom with a varied collection of students serves as a barrier. Children’s voices are ignored and, perhaps, muffled. With home-based learning, however, every child feels comfortable talking about, expressing, creating, and making sense of whatever comes to mind. As a result, the person develops emotional stability and resilience.
7.   Due to a lack of meaningful family time, students in traditional schools are more likely to be rebellious, disobedient, and mentally ill. Children gain from their parents’ company and maximize their learning opportunities at home. 

Disadvantages of Homeschooling

Along with the advantages, homeschooling also has many disadvantages. Here are some of the disadvantages of homeschooling:

1.   As a result of “teaching” their children at home and taking them to other classes, homeschooling can consume a lot of the parents’ time.
2.   The parent must be financially independent or have the ability to manage a lower family income to continue homeschooling.
3.   The student may not have adequate opportunities to socialize or participate in extracurricular activities if the parent insists on finishing a prescribed syllabus.
4.   Parents will need to devote all of their time to raising their kids. Everything would also become more challenging if there were two or three kids, especially if both parents needed to balance their jobs.
5.   Due to fewer limitations, students who are homeschooled will be more inclined to skip class than ordinary schoolchildren.
6.   Not all parents are experts in every field, but some of them may be. Not all parents will provide the kind of instruction that schools provide, particularly when it leads to higher grades.
7.   Homeschoolers frequently get together with fellow homeschoolers. People who don’t go to these meetups develop less crucial social skills, become reclusive at jobs or in school, and lose confidence. However, kids that go to school regularly will be quite confident.

Can Pupils Who Are Homeschooled Pursue Higher Education?

They can, yes. There are alternatives to taking Class 10 and Class 12 on the CBSE Board as independent candidates for homeschoolers.

• Open Basic Education is a program offered by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) for students up to the age of 14.

NIOS is the board of education under the Union Government of India. It was formed to promote flexible learning and offer the goal of promoting flexible learning and offering education to all societal groups.

Similar to the CBSE and the CISCE, the NIOS is a national board that conducts exams  for secondary and senior secondary levels. After high school, it also provides vocational training.

Under the Open basic education program by NIOS, pupils may register for tests at the A, B, and C levels, which correspond to Classes 3, 5, and 7. They can also choose between the Senior Secondary Course, which is comparable to Class 12 exams, and the Secondary Education Course, which is comparable to Class 10 exams.

•   They can also choose the Cambridge Assessment International Examination IGCSE, or the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (CAIE)
•   Homeschoolers, however, are not permitted to sit for the ICSE and ISC exams.  

FAQs

After a few years of homeschooling, is it possible to return to school? 

The student’s age will determine this. The Right to Education Act in India prohibits denying admission to any kid.

For instance, if a 10-year-old has always been homeschooled, he will need to pass the entrance exam for the school where the class he wishes to join is located. If he passes the exam, the school is not allowed to refuse him entrance.

Is homeschooling a more affordable choice?

Individual parents’ decisions will be impacted by this. Parents may not be required to pay a certain amount, but it depends on the curriculum they choose, the online courses they sign their kids up for, and the extracurricular activities they choose, such as swimming, karate, dancing class, etc.

 If I want to homeschool my child, how will they get along with other kids their age? 

This is a common misconception about homeschooling. In addition to interacting with children in extracurricular activities, homeschoolers can interact with one another through the numerous support groups that are available in each location.

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