No option for ‘homeschooling’ at this time- Dr the Hon Wheatley
Speaking during a presentation for Professional Day, held under the theme 'Educating all in changing times', on Monday September 7, 2020, the Minister said, while online learning will be the order, there are policies regarding how one can homeschool a child.
Homeschool process starts with registration
“By homeschooling, I mean parents who pull their children out of our schools, whether online schools or brick or mortar schools, and educate these children themselves or with a tutor.”
Dr the Hon Wheatley continued that in order to homeschool students they must first be registered before the school year commences.
“The process includes providing an educational plan for each student who is receiving home education to the Chief Education Officer, three months prior to the commencement of the home education programme.”
Registration period already passed
He said for parents considering homeschooling as an option and who have not followed the guidelines some three months ago, the option would not be available for the time being, as the requirements of the Education Act that governs homeschooling might not be met; however, he noted that online learning will come with challenges.
“Online schooling comes with its own sets of challenges, such as no access to devices, unreliable internet service, the absence of parental support at home during instructional time and the barrage of psychosocial issues.”
Dr Wheatley said, despite the challenges, the Ministry remains committed to ensuring students receive a sound education through institutional policies, as schools remain closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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17 Responses to “No option for ‘homeschooling’ at this time- Dr the Hon Wheatley”
Can you just decide to home school your children without following the LAW of the land.
Where in the world can you decide that you will home school your children and NOT apply to the organization responsible for education?
All of you who are currently doing it without the approval of the Ministry of Education need to be fined.
And then you all have the audacity to be throwing off talk at the Minister.
Minister it is time that you put those officers under your ministry who are not engaged at this time to visit ALL private schools to gather information on whose registration has dropped. If the children did NOT:
1. Register for PUBLIC school
2. Register in ANOTHER private school
3. Leave the Territory
4. Register and approved for HOME schooling.
Then Houston you have a problem because the Education Act states that they should be attending school NOT home schooled without approval because the parents are not in agreement with online schooling at this time.
Let all of them know that their total disrespect for the laws of this territory will NOT be tolerated.