Homeschooling Around the World: African & Asia

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

10 Apr 2008 11:49 AM

Homeschooling is not just an American thing. I often receive messages from people in countries other than my own about homeschooling. Some of these people already homeschool their children. Some are curious about homeschooling. There are others who are not even aware that people homeschool in their country. With that said, I decided to discuss homeschooling around the globe. I would like to start with homeschooling in Africa and Asia.

Homeschooling in Africa

Information on homeschooling is Africa is limited due to the instability of many countries. Still there is some information in key countries such a Kenya and South Africa. Homeschooling in Africa was likely influenced by many missionaries who have homeschooled their own children instead of sending them to American boarding schools where they had little contact with their children.

South Africa has over 10,000 homeschooling families, but there is an ongoing struggle between homeschoolers and the government over control of curriculum. Homeschoolers in South Africa have the benefit of several associations and online providers and curriculum resources.

There are also families reportedly homeschooling in Kenya. The number is small, but growing as Kenya has expanded free public school in recent years and classrooms are overcrowded. There is also evidence of homeschooling in many other African countries such as Zimbabwe and Egypt.

Homeschooling in Asia

There is a limited number of homeschoolers in China, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kings, Jakarta and Indonesia. The governments in Shanghai and Beijing are largely against homeschooling. Still, homeschooling organization Teach Asia has 300 homeschoolers enrolled. The program provides legal covering and ACE curriculum.

There are some countries in or near Asia that allow homeschooling. In Taiwan, homeschooling became legal in 1999. Parents must have lesson plans approved, and students are granted diplomas through the school systems. In South Korea there is a vague homeschooling law that allows homeschooling to grow and flourish. There could be over 1000 homeschooling families in South Korea. Japan also has a growing homeschooling population. While the laws on homeschooling in Japan are vague, homeschoolers are not bothered by the state. There could easily be 800 homeschooling families in Japan.

Homeschooling Around the World: African & Asia

Homeschooling around the World: Australia &; New Zealand Homeschooling around the World: The Americas

Homeschooling around the World: Europe Homeschooling Requirements in the United States

Learn more about Andrea Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

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