Homeschooling your child?

[Chenonceau]

beanbear:

Can anyone advise if a parent needs to seek exemption if a child is homeschooled from secondary level onwards? If a child attends primary school regularly then at secondary school, opts for homeschool, must we tell MOE?


What options are available in terms of syllabus for Secondary level? If I want my child to still have option to attend Singapore polytechnics or university, must we still work towards sitting for the \"O\" Levels & \"A\" Levels exams here?

Secondary school education is not compulsory right?

[2ppaamm]

beanbear:

Can anyone advise if a parent needs to seek exemption if a child is homeschooled from secondary level onwards? If a child attends primary school regularly then at secondary school, opts for homeschool, must we tell MOE?


What options are available in terms of syllabus for Secondary level? If I want my child to still have option to attend Singapore polytechnics or university, must we still work towards sitting for the \"O\" Levels & \"A\" Levels exams here?

Beanbear,
I homeschooled my daughter when she was in secondary school. She was already in a sec school. When we decided to homeschool, we just informed the school and took her out. Quite unlike Primary school when you have to fill out quite a few form and inform the school of the syllabus.

To get into Poly, you must finish GCE O levels, iGCSE or GCSE, or use IB. To get into Singapore university, you can choose from 'A' levels, IB, US Diploma. For universities, different faculties will have different criteria. And yes, you can homeschool your child and get him/her prepared for any university course, including medicine, law and engineering, the more 'heavy' courses. You just need to provide the right facilities at home.

Hope this helps.

[2ppaamm]

Chenonceau:

beanbear:

Can anyone advise if a parent needs to seek exemption if a child is homeschooled from secondary level onwards? If a child attends primary school regularly then at secondary school, opts for homeschool, must we tell MOE?


What options are available in terms of syllabus for Secondary level? If I want my child to still have option to attend Singapore polytechnics or university, must we still work towards sitting for the \"O\" Levels & \"A\" Levels exams here?

Secondary school education is not compulsory right?

No. Only primary. So technically, no one can force a kid to go to school in secondary.

[2ppaamm]

mycrysania:

Hi 2ppaamm,


You mentioned that you are working full time. Just want to check that when you made the application to MOE for the exemption, were you already working full time then? I run my own business, and I do have flexible working hours. Hence, would like to access if MOE has a problem if I am not a SAHM if I would like to apply to home-school my children.

Thanks for your clarification, would be also appreciate any feedback/input from others who know of MOE's stance on this. Thanks!

Hi,

Yes, I was already working full-time at that time. I had no problem getting an approval for her to homeschool, during the primary and secondary phases.

[beanbear]

2ppaamm:

beanbear:

Can anyone advise if a parent needs to seek exemption if a child is homeschooled from secondary level onwards? If a child attends primary school regularly then at secondary school, opts for homeschool, must we tell MOE?


What options are available in terms of syllabus for Secondary level? If I want my child to still have option to attend Singapore polytechnics or university, must we still work towards sitting for the \"O\" Levels & \"A\" Levels exams here?

Beanbear,
I homeschooled my daughter when she was in secondary school. She was already in a sec school. When we decided to homeschool, we just informed the school and took her out. Quite unlike Primary school when you have to fill out quite a few form and inform the school of the syllabus.

To get into Poly, you must finish GCE O levels, iGCSE or GCSE, or use IB. To get into Singapore university, you can choose from 'A' levels, IB, US Diploma. For universities, different faculties will have different criteria. And yes, you can homeschool your child and get him/her prepared for any university course, including medicine, law and engineering, the more 'heavy' courses. You just need to provide the right facilities at home.

Hope this helps.

Thanks 2ppaamm. What curriculum resources did you use for your Secondary school child? What do you consider to be adequate \"facilities\"? If I decide to get my daughter to do SAT instead, what online resources would you recommend?

DH & I were exploring this question about our DD. Her ADD and dyspraxia makes her seem so inadequate in the Singapore's harsh system. Yet, there are many moments, we both could see how smart, creative & entrepreneurial she is. I can't help but feel that if I don't explore a different path for her, I as her parent am creating a path of slow & sure death for her in this current system; one that diminishes her natural gifts. Yet, we both feel she needs some basic qualifications, but is \"O\" levels basic enough? Are there alternative \"basic\" educational qualifications?

I've been on this traditional pathway that I'm quite blur about the different educational pathways. I'm hoping someone could shed some light especially parents who are familiar with education systems elsewhere.

[metz]

Hi beanbear,


If you are looking for info on homeschooling at secondary school level, you may want to try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/teenhomeschoolsg/. This is a Sg homeschooling group for parents with teens. Perhaps they can share more with you on the alternative schooling possibilities.

[wittlewabbit]

Dear all,


I am seriously considering to homeschool my son for his K2… I have been always avidly teaching him at home and he seems to learn more from me than the school. The sole purpose to send him to school is just to socialize with the children but the cost is so high. … and it’s only 3 hours. They really don’t do much except to do a lot of singing-- the academic part, is not enough…

I am considering taking this bold step, but am worried about his emotional well being. What do i tell him if i were to stop school half way? But do take note that even up to k1, he still cries at times when i send him to school because he wants to be with me. I am in quite a struggle now, my heart says to homeschool, but i am afraid that i may not have considered any disadvantages in doing that.

Can anyone advise? ps- I am only considering homeschooling till primary 1.

I have been an ex MOE teacher and thus teaching is my cup of tea.

[SAHM Chew]

Hi,


My Ds3 is GDD and is 6 years old this year, currently attending k2 mainstream.

I am thinking of homeschooling him in p1 as he is delayed in speech, language and even motor skills. The delay for all is estimated to be around a year.

The PD, speech therapist and occupational therapist recommend that he repeat his k2 to catch up with the demands in p1.

I would like to know how to we submit to moe for homeschooling?

Thanks

[beanbear]

SAHM Chew,


There is a Compulsory Education Branch in MOE. Look up the contact in Singapore Government Directory and and you can contact any of the officers there.

I didn’t put my kids for homeschooling in primary school but I’ve friends who have applied and they tell me that the MOE inspectors will come to your home to inspect and interview you on how you will be homeschooling your child before they approve.

[sembgal]

wittlewabbit:

Dear all,


I am seriously considering to homeschool my son for his K2.. I have been always avidly teaching him at home and he seems to learn more from me than the school. The sole purpose to send him to school is just to socialize with the children but the cost is so high. .. and it's only 3 hours. They really don't do much except to do a lot of singing-- the academic part, is not enough...

I am considering taking this bold step, but am worried about his emotional well being. What do i tell him if i were to stop school half way? But do take note that even up to k1, he still cries at times when i send him to school because he wants to be with me. I am in quite a struggle now, my heart says to homeschool, but i am afraid that i may not have considered any disadvantages in doing that.

Can anyone advise? ps- I am only considering homeschooling till primary 1.

I have been an ex MOE teacher and thus teaching is my cup of tea.

Hi, hope this post doesn't come too late for you. Your child will miss out developing on his Social & Emotional aspects with his peers in a school environment. At P1 level, the children have to learn to make new friends, stand up against bullies, follow verbal instructions etc.

You can consider After-School Home Schooling. That means you still send your child to a regular classroom setting to learn together with peers. At the same time, engage with mind-stimulating activities with your child after school. You are an ex-teacher so you should be good with coming up designing learning plans for your child. Just my two cents worth.