HOME SCHOOL SURGE
MERYL NAIDOO
THE number of Tasmanian children being homeschooled has surged, doubling in 12 months as more families shun the traditional education system.
As Term 3 starts, data from the Office of the Education Registrar, which monitors home education in Tasmania, shows the new registrations for homeschooled children rose by 50 per cent this year.
There are now 1160 students in home education in the state, an increase of 66 children on the year before. In 2018 1001 students were registered and 925 in 2017.
Home education registrar Katharine O’Donnell said the impact of COVID-19 had fuelled the increase in parents choosing to educate their children themselves.
There had been a spike in inquiries as a result of lockdown, she said. Many newly registered families had thought about homeschooling but didn’t the get the chance until lockdown.
“It’s not like distance education where you are provided with everything. It is a huge commitment from parents and not for everyone,” Ms O’Donnell said.
“Parents have to research and develop the program covering the nine standards for each child.”
Kristen Erskine, who is educating two school-aged daughters from her South Hobart home, said exploring their world is the real teacher and they don’t follow regimented plans. She said her family had dipped in and out of formal schooling.
Fern and Isla Campbell, 15 and 11, love homeschool and asked not to return to formal school this year.
While students are back in classrooms this week, Fern and Isla’s school week looks like a shortlist of “must do” main lessons, bushwalks, walk the dog, language practice, daily maths, a typing course, English practice, music practice. book reading and life skills. Ms Erskine said with the impact of the pandemic on formal schooling she felt grateful to have already made the switch.
“Schools can close in the event of outbreaks and lockdowns, (but) we won’t be affected much,.” she said.