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Homeschooling: Legal in India
HSLDA ^ | 16 September, 2010 | HSLDA

Posted on 09/16/2010 3:07:12 PM PDT by James C. Bennett

Homeschoolers in India received great news when they opened up their newspapers this past week: The Minister of Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal (with responsibility over education) officially recognized and affirmed homeschooling as a legal educational option in all of India.

While homeschoolers in India have largely been left alone in the past, a new education law came into effect in April 2010 that mandates compulsory attendance in schools. Since the law did not address alternative education options, homeschoolers were left to wonder how the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009 (RTE) would affect them.

Homeschoolers and alternative schools in India had petitioned the government in favor of a parent’s right to choose the form of his child’s education ever since the RTE became law. In April 2010, the Indian High Court heard a case regarding whether the RTE infringes on the freedom of parents. The court dismissed the petition, but gave parents who homeschool or send their children to alternative schools eight weeks to make a presentation before the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). Homeschoolers met to draft a presentation, as well as a letter to the Minister of HRD, asking that he accommodate homeschooling in the RTE Act or, at the very least, clarify its stand on home education. Minister Sibal’s statements offer the official clarification that homeschoolers in India have been waiting for since earlier this year.

In a statement released through The Times of India last Tuesday, Minister Sibal states that the purpose behind the compulsory education requirements of the RTE Act is for “every child to be in school.” He explains, however, that the RTE places responsibility on the state to create schools and not explicitly on the parents to send their children to the schools. The Act requires the state to ensure that reasonable, quality education exists for all children in all sections of society, especially the poorest and most deprived sections. The Act is not meant to compel school attendance when parents have decided that the best form of education for their child is instruction in the home.

“If somebody decides not to send his or her children to school, we [the government] are not going to interfere,” Minister Sibal clarifies. “Parents are free not to send their children to school, but teach them at home.” The Minister says the government cannot be micromanaging, and “if parents wished to and had the means,” they can homeschool their children. HSLDA applauds the Minister’s philosophy in this regard and is encouraged about the prospect of home education continuing to grow in India.

Since homeschoolers are not required to register with any government bodies, there are no official numbers of how many homeschooled students are in India. India has a total population of over 1 billion, with roughly a third of its citizens under the age of 14, so the opportunity for a robust homeschool movement is strong. In recent months, homeschooling appears to be a growing choice of parents. Homeschoolers in India have actively pursued organizing themselves via online means, as well as working to gain favorable media attention. Please view HSLDA’s India webpage for further links to organizations and news articles.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: education; homeschool; homeschooling; schooling
More Parents Opting For Homeschooling

The Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/More-Parents-Opting-For-Homeschooling/articleshow/5446258.cms

BANGALORE: Does your child hate going to school? Is she stressed out, pressurized and overloaded? Or, are you sick of the conventional schooling system? Simple, don't send them to school. Try homeschooling -- that's what more and more parents in Bangalore are doing.

In cities like Mumbai and Pune, many parents have stopped sending children to regular schools. Instead, they learn by themselves at home or are taught by parents or tutors. There are over 50 such children in Bangalore and there's even an online forum where their parents interact with each other and seek help. All of them have different reasons for choosing this system.

For agriculturist Vivek Kariappa, it was the realization that conventional schooling is biased against the rural system. His children followed no textbooks, but an agriculture-oriented curriculum. They were urged to read, to search for more information, to face problems and solve them.

When his son, who was interested in sports, complained he wasn't getting time to indulge in his passion, Sunil Ruthnaswamy thought of pulling his child out of school last year. "Now, I have time for both. I study three hours a day, which I feel is equal to a day studying at school. I devote three hours each for cricket and rowing and am quite happy," said Joshua Ruthnaswamy, 14.

However, for many, dislike for the conventional system made them opt for homeschooling. Says Amit Mathur, a software professional: "My wife and I were not satisfied with the education we got. We don't trust the present system of schooling. I don't want to see my child growing up without thinking."

There are also children with learning disorders for whom homeschooling is a better option.

HOW IT WORKS

There is no separate syllabus for homeschooling children. Most parents TOI spoke to followed prescribed textbooks. However, some didn't follow textbooks and others designed their own curriculum by referring to syllabi of different boards.

None of them thrust books on their children. "When my child was in first grade, I used to take him to shops and make him understand addition and subtraction. Later, I used textbooks as worksheets. That's how I taught him maths," said a parent, Chetana Keni. Children are encouraged to figure out things by themselves and find pleasure in learning new things.

While most parents help children in the lower classes, they take the help of tutors when they can no longer deal with a subject. "We have a forum. Each parent is good in some subject. For example, I love maths. So, when a child needs assistance in it, I help him out," said Amit Mathur, a software developer.

On reaching Class 10, the child can take the board exam privately by registering with the National Institute of Open Schooling or International General Certificate of Secondary Education. The degree is acceptable across the world.

BACK AT HOME

Most children have a timetable, which is not regimented. They study for a particular number of hours (ranging from 2 to 6 hours), spend time pursuing their area of interest, with friends and then by themselves.

"The biggest advantage is that the timetable is flexible. The child can learn what he wants when he feels like it. He can go as in-depth as he wants. He learns it at his pace, the way he wants. He takes ownership of his learning. The stress on the child is zero," said Aditi Mathur, a strong believer of alternative education methods.

The children are generally happy with what they do. "I get a lot of time in doing what I always wanted to do. I know how to divide time between activities. The only thing is school was much more fun with so many friends around," said Joshua.

TRAINING FOR PARENTS

Experienced homeschoolers say parents should know how to go about teaching their children in the right way. "All parents are not born teachers. Even they need training on teaching methods, and creating a conducive environment, how to instil discipline and so on," said Chetana Keni, who gives such training to parents.

SOME WORRIES

A child's social networking skills is one area of concern. "I won't recommend homeschooling for any child who lives in a flat without good interaction with neighbours," says Chetana. However, some parents say they have made new social circles -- in the neighbourhood, during extra-curricular activities and at home. "The advantage here is they have friends from all age groups, and not just their peer group," observes a parent.

EXPENSE

The cost of homeschooling varies on what and how the child learns. "At times, it can be more expensive than sending the child to regular schools. It depends on the child's learning needs. Apart from routine requirements like books, CDs, painting kits, one also needs to pay for extra classes which these days cost not less than Rs 500," said Chetana.

PSYCHOLOGISTSPEAK

Considering the system our schools are following, homeschooling is a good option. A school is crammed -- be it in curricular or extra-curricular activities. In a family, it's a more relaxed environment and therefore more conducive for learning. Some say the pressure the child faces in school is good. But, in 90% of cases, the pressure doesn't do any good. Homeschooling is good as long as the child doesn't take it easy.

-- M S Thimmappa, clinical psychologist, and former vice-chancellor, Bangalore University


1 posted on 09/16/2010 3:07:18 PM PDT by James C. Bennett
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To: JenB

Of interest ping!


2 posted on 09/16/2010 3:13:36 PM PDT by James C. Bennett
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To: JenB; Tired of Taxes; wintertime; bamahead; AuntB; Impy; fieldmarshaldj

Here’s an excerpt which includes a statement from a homeschooling parent in India:

However, for many, dislike for the conventional system made them opt for homeschooling. Says Amit Mathur, a software professional: “My wife and I were not satisfied with the education we got. We don’t trust the present system of schooling. I don’t want to see my child growing up without thinking.”

It’s not just a problem in the U.S.


3 posted on 09/16/2010 3:13:43 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued (Obama's more worried about Israelis building houses than he is about Islamists building atomic bombs)
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To: James C. Bennett

bump


4 posted on 09/16/2010 3:27:45 PM PDT by altair (Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent - Salvor Hardin)
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To: James C. Bennett
India is making incredible strides. Just a decade ago it was a socialist pit. Now, if my job were “outsourced” there, I think I'd follow it! No, wait .... they're probably too smart to let Americans in. They see what we've done to this place.
5 posted on 09/16/2010 3:32:01 PM PDT by Forgotten Amendments (I'd rather be Plaxico Burress than Sean Taylor)
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To: James C. Bennett

Dissatisfied parents in India also start private schools for their children, and the parents aren’t wealthy by any means. How many dissatisfied parents in this country have the initiative to do that?


6 posted on 09/16/2010 3:52:39 PM PDT by goldi (')
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To: Forgotten Amendments

For all of its claim to be the largest democracy in the world, India has made one conspicuous exception to its progressive ways: while allowing abortion-on-demand, the government’s response to the tide of aborted female children was to outlaw abortions after the gender of the child had been determined. Fortunately in the US, we can still kill our babies based on gender; true choice. /s


7 posted on 09/16/2010 4:00:21 PM PDT by kearnyirish2
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To: kearnyirish2

I don’t think you are right about that law in India. My understanding is that abortion is illegal in India (at least on paper). However, in slums where kids are expected to work, they kill off the female babies and so India banned sex-determination tests using ultrasound.


8 posted on 09/16/2010 4:36:59 PM PDT by JimWayne
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To: Clintonfatigued

Interesting, especially considering there is a belief that the educational system in India is superior to ours.

It’s sad, though, for Annie and Christer Johansson of Sweden. (The story was posted here awhile ago.) Remember, Annie is from India, and she and her husband were returning to India with their young son when Swedish “authorities” pulled them off the plane and took their son from them because they were homeschooling him:

http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/Sweden/200909160.asp

If only they’d made it to her country.


9 posted on 09/16/2010 8:38:14 PM PDT by Tired of Taxes
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To: JimWayne

I assure you, abortion is VERY legal in India. The government is big on making other birth control available as well.


10 posted on 09/17/2010 2:34:22 AM PDT by kearnyirish2
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To: Tired of Taxes

Do you know if they got their son back?

What a disgusting story.


11 posted on 09/18/2010 5:03:38 PM PDT by Impy (Don't call me red.)
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To: Impy

As far as I know, their son is still being kept away from them. It’s such a sad case.


12 posted on 09/18/2010 9:36:06 PM PDT by Tired of Taxes
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