Homeschooling- The New Normal

However much of a cliché it may be but "one size fits all" is probably not the right way to go in most situations. The same is the case to homeschooling. Let's get a bit more familiar with the term.

We have all heard from our elders that parents are our first teachers and home is our first school. This couldn't be truer, as children were imparted with knowledge at home before the idea of the schooling system was even conceived. Right from 'Gurukul Parampara' in ancient India to the times of the British Raj, homeschooling has always been around for centuries and generations. With the onset of industrialization, the establishment of emphasis on education through schools commenced, and social factors influenced how the school functioned and what was taught in the classrooms.

Homeschooling again became a prominent method of imparting education around the 1970s. Earlier, it was viewed as an alternative, and the classroom system was mainstream and conventional. One of the reasons behind choosing to homeschool over the traditional system is that the latter is not personalized. In fact, quite the contrary. Millions of children follow the same curriculum even though their learning pace and interests are poles apart.

Pros of homeschooling

Families' preference

Parents may prefer that their children get the advantage of individualized learning where the syllabus is structured to suit the desired hobbies and more inclined with future plans.

Real-world applicability

Through homeschooling, parents can teach topics which have real-world applicability. For example, children in schools need to learn how to do their taxes or manage their finances. Parents can fill this gap and prepare their children better for the future.

Emotional intelligence

While schools intensely focus on scores, homeschooling has the potential to broaden the scope and make the future generation more emotionally intelligent. Parents can even tap into those topics which are not touched upon in school, like menstruation, sex education, gender sensitivity, etc.

Cost

If not for the above reasons, many families who do not have the means to send their children to school have resorted to homeschooling. We witnessed this recently when Covid-19 hit and left many unemployed.

Cons of homeschooling

Bubble trouble

Attending school and staying around kids of different ages allows for peer learning and other vital lessons like empathy, sharing, working harmoniously among a group of people, etc. These become more important when children step outside their bubbles as adults into the real world.

Unrealistic expectations

Many parents are over-protective of their children, and that's why they prefer homeschooling as a way of imparting education while setting unrealistic expectations like children learning at a certain pace or choosing a career that is more in accordance with the wishes of the guardians.

Commitment

Homeschooling is not the way for parents who get easily anxious about learning delays or meeting standards on traditional skills such as literacy and numeracy. The person taking on this colossal challenge needs to be patient and have the time to commit to the responsibility diligently.

The legality of homeschooling in India

The government of India sternly follows each child's 'RIGHT TO EDUCATION' and celebrates all progress in the area. This means homeschooling is allowed in India. As far as the Indian legal system is concerned, it does not consider homeschooling or online education to violate any clause or provision of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

Though any governmental authority in India does not regulate this method of imparting education, students under homeschooling can take tests and appear for examinations under IGCSE or NIOS that will allow them the same scope as any other examination taken under any other recognized boards.

How Urban Tutor can help with homeschooling:

Urban Tutor ardently believes that every child is different, and there is a need for a more personalized approach to their studies. We cannot always rely on the standard schooling system, and we learnt the lesson the hard way when our children's education came under threat because of the pandemic. We provide flexibility while also putting a structure in place. Our focus is on enquiry-based education so that children are instilled with the zeal and enthusiasm to discover and invent. We bring the best from the world of traditional schooling and that is trained and excellent teachers to mould your children beautifully.

Just like we have adapted to new ways of doing things as and when posed with challenges, we will be able to understand and embrace the benefits that come along with homeschooling. We are going back to our roots where home was our school, providing us with every opportunity to become great minds.

In the words of Albert Einstein- “Education is not the learning of the facts but the training of the mind to think” Urban Tutor applauds this spirit and will continue on the mission to provide stellar education.