Since my kid will join the public school system in the near future, I am quite disappointed to find that the Malaysian education system is still focused on ‘quantity’ and not ‘quality’. Gosh, how can anyone score As in 14-15 subjects???
I’d checked out private schools and international schools too but the former still follows the Malaysian education system (or Singaporean) while the latter will paralyze you financially especially if you have TWO kids.
HOW ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING?
I became interested in homeschooling when we relocated to China and I met:
a) a pleasant American young man who was homeschooled from the age of 3 – 14 and
b) foreign / expat families who found the international schools too expensive (unsatisfactory) OR were on the move a lot.
We agree on a few points during our discussions:
1. Homeschooling allows your child to progress at their own pace
I like this feature because if your child progresses ahead of his/her grade level, he/she can start the next grade level earlier.
On the other hand, if he/she is behind on one or two subjects, you can coach him/her without the feeling that he’s behind the rest of the class!
Homeschooling is especially helpful for Special Education because you can adjust the pace according to your child’s needs. The curriculum for homeschooling includes audio and video materials (besides books), which help to support and enhance a child’s learning experiences.
2. Homeschooling has a balanced curriculum
I had the chance to coach a young girl studying at the international school, which follows the American education system. The American national curriculum comprises:
- Language Arts (or English as we know it),
- Natural Science,
- Social Science,
- Math, Arts,
- Foreign Language (French/Spanish),
- (U.S. and World)
with electives in subjects like Art History, Renaissance Art and Physical Education.
I really like their Language Arts, Natural Science and Foreign Language subjects, which are nothing at all like our “text-book oriented approach” in Malaysia…
If my kids can follow the US-based education system without having to be in the U.S., why not?
3. Homeschooling provides an international experience
An out-of-date curriculum, overcrowded classrooms, incompetent (or overworked teachers) and increasing crime rates, homeschooling is fast becoming a popular option for many families.
And since many of our public schools are not as “muhibbah” as they were in the past, you find most students sticking to their own race or etnic group.
I am especially sad about this aspect because I grew up with a mix of Chinese, Indian, Malay, Punjabi, Eurasian, Filipino(a) and Thai classmates and schoolmates.
Homeschooling provides an alternative because many homeschooling families connect via video chats and even meet up with each other if they happen to be in the same town 
I know my toddler had a lot of fun mingling with little friends from Argentina, Colombia, China, Hong Kong, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Taiwan, the UK and the US during playgroup!
4. Homeschooling is mobile – no need to sign your child in / out of school each time you move!
Families on the move love that most homeschooling programmes have their curriculum online. If you enrolled your child at the international school, it’s *really tough* on your child when you move because he/she will have to adjust to:
a) a new school;
b) new teachers and
c) make new friends…
While parents tend to say,
“They’re young. They’ll adjust. They’ll be fine.”
it’s not entirely true. Children need a sense of stability – imagine how you’d feel having to make new friends every few months or every year? Read about Bastian Fauvell’s experience (whose father is in the US Air Force) in “Flying Solo by Ralph Fletcher“.
Also, children need a sense of responsibility. Moving them around makes them feel that they can always start afresh at a new place – they don’t think they have a problem if they don’t get along with people in the current school. They’ll be moving anyway!
Homeschooled children are still connected to their friends as they make new friends.
Also, if you decide to return to the public school system, you’ll find almost 100% of your homeschooling work / grades recognized and accepted.
5. Homeschooling is quite affordable
Unlike international schools, which cost up to US$10,000 a year per child, a virtual homeschooling package may be as low as $US625 per student – per year. Family packages are also available if you sign up more than one child.
You can use the savings from this to supplement the virtual learning experience with books, other materials and field trips.
All in all, I find that homeschooling provides an interesting alternative to our public school system.
Do you homeschool your children? I’d love to hear from you and know more about your experiences
Now that the preschooler knows that the postman brings goodies for him, I let him open up the parcel containing this book for review.
“Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret” was in the reading list of the young girl from the international school I was coaching for English.
” or a collection of her books “
.”
