I read this question on a website and it honestly made noise in my mind.
Why the hell would I have to ask permission from a small group of corrupt people?
Why should I ask permission to educate my daughter in the way I consider appropriate?
A year ago I found myself in this dilemma, I was being "forced" to enroll my daughter in an institution, I did it, for legal reasons, this year I will tell them to fuck off (sorry for the rudeness). I have concentrated on researching everything about it, the reality in Peru is that there is a legal vacuum when it comes to home education. If I am wrong in something I am saying or there is some important information about home education in Peru, I would like to know.
I found a place called "the community" located in Lima, it's a "school" but not a conventional one or one accredited by the state, it's actually a place where several groups of families meet to educate their children, for example: Mom "A" is in charge of teaching English, Mom "B" is in charge of teaching gardening, Dad "C" is in charge of teaching computer science... and so on, each mom and dad has a role to play in that community, it's not a place where you drop off your child at 7 in the morning and then pick him up at noon, then ask him "how was school? What did you do?" and your little one answers only with "fine, nothing". In that place parents have to be actively involved in their children's education, children are not forced to wear a uniform, children also have their responsibilities and what children are taught is democratically decided by the parents. Another thing that I found interesting about that place is that you can choose how many days you want your child to attend, as I said before it is not really a school, it is a community, a place of support for children and parents who are homeschooling. I found that place while looking for information about homeschooling in Peru, that's when I realized that there are people here using this method, without giving any kind of explanation to the state.
I continued my research on homeschooling in Peru and yes, there really is no regulation here. My little theory is this: In Peru there is a large percentage of the population in extreme poverty, usually in the provinces, small towns, in remote places where there are no schools, nor any kind of state or private service. Even in Lima there are places where they call them "human settlements", they are people who live in invasions in the hills of the city, most of them do not have water or electricity, some of these children are enrolled in the nearest public schools or there is the case of the parents who do not do it because they cannot afford school supplies, uniforms, snacks and transportation. Many of these children have to work from a very early age, usually they are the ones you find at the traffic lights selling candy.
Countries where homeschooling is legal:
Completely legal in countries close to Spain and in other international references:
Portugal: Homeschooling is completely legal in Portugal. Families who choose to homeschool must register their children at a local school, which will be responsible for monitoring academic progress. Students must complete regular tests to ensure that national educational standards are met. France: In France, homeschooling is legal and has been gaining popularity. Families must notify local authorities and the education inspector of their decision annually. Homeschooled children must pass periodic tests to assess their progress and ensure that their education meets French educational standards. Italy: In Italy, homeschooling is also completely legal. Families do not need special permits, but they must inform the local school of their decision to homeschool. Students must comply with national curricula and are subject to regular assessments to ensure that their education is aligned with national educational expectations. United States: In the United States, homeschooling is legal in all states, although specific regulations vary from state to state. Families generally have a fair amount of autonomy in choosing educational methods and content, but some states require regular assessments or standardized testing. United Kingdom: Fully legal throughout the United Kingdom, including England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. No special permits are required and there is no obligation to follow the national curriculum, although local authorities may conduct informal visits to ensure that an appropriate education is being provided. Canada: Homeschooling is legal in all provinces and territories, but regulations vary significantly. Some provinces require families to notify local authorities and have their children subject to regular assessments, while others offer greater flexibility.Legal with specific conditions
Hong Kong: In Hong Kong, homeschooling is legal, but requires special permission from the Education Department. This permission is usually granted under special circumstances, such as for health reasons or for families who travel frequently. Homeschooled children must meet Hong Kong educational standards and may be required to participate in assessments to ensure that their education is at the level of their peers in traditional schools. Netherlands: In the Netherlands, homeschooling is permitted only under specific circumstances, mainly on religious or philosophical grounds. Families wishing to educate their children at home must demonstrate that they have deep convictions that prevent them from sending their children to regular schools. In addition, they must ensure that their children receive an education that is at least equivalent to that offered in public schools, and are subject to regular inspections by the educational authorities. Greece: In Greece, homeschooling is legal only for children with special educational needs (SEN). This option must be approved by a special education board and parents must demonstrate that home education is more beneficial to their child than a traditional school setting. Home-schooled children must follow the national curriculum and are assessed regularly to ensure their education meets national standards.Other countries where it is legal with more or less restrictions:
- Ucrania, Trinidad y Tobago, Tailandia, Taiwan, Suiza, St. Kitts y Nevis, Sudáfrica, Eslovenia, Eslovaquia, Singapur, Escocia, Rusia, Polonia, Bulgaria, Filipinas, Noruega, Nueva Zelanda, Moldavia, Malasia, Luxemburgo, Letonia, Jamaica, Israel, Irlanda, Indonesia, India, Islandia, Hungría, Finlandia, Estonia, Ecuador, República Dominicana, Dinamarca, República Checa, Colombia, Chile, Brunei, Botswana, Antigua y Barbuda, Bolivia, Belize, Bélgica, Barbados, Bahamas, Austria, Australia, y Aruba (solicitando permiso).
Countries where homeschooling is not regulated
Spain: Homeschooling is not regulated in Spain. Families who choose to educate their children at home do so in a framework of legal uncertainty, meaning that it is neither formally recognized nor prohibited by law. There are no clear guidelines or legal support to support homeschooling as an alternative educational option, although in practice many families do so. As a side note, although homeschooling as such is not regulated, there is the Center for Innovation and Development of Distance Education (CIDEAD), intended to provide distance education to itinerant or foreign-based families, but it is not designed for the general public interested in homeschooling. Mexico: Similar to Spain, Mexico also does not have formal regulation for homeschooling. Families who homeschool must ensure that their children meet the requirements for accreditation of studies through standardized tests of the national educational system. Although it is practiced in reality, homeschooling in Mexico is done without a defined legal framework. South Korea and Japan: In South Korea and Japan, homeschooling also lacks specific regulation. There are no laws that directly address homeschooling, leaving families in a situation of legal uncertainty. However, in both countries, education in public or private institutions is the widely accepted and socially expected norm, making homeschooling a less common option. Nicaragua and Guatemala: In these Central American countries, homeschooling is also unregulated. There are no specific policies or legal support to support families who decide to adopt this form of education. Although families may choose to homeschool, they do so without a legal framework that clearly defines their rights and obligations.Other countries where home education is not expressly regulated:
Marruecos, Venezuela, Uruguay, Uganda, Rumania, Perú, Panamá, Pakistán, Malta, Macau, Lituania, Kuwait, Kenya, Ghana, Emiratos Árabes (permitido legalmente a extranjeros), Croacia, Costa Rica, China, Brasil, y Argentina.Countries where homeschooling is expressly prohibited:
Andorra: In Andorra, homeschooling is not permitted. The law requires that all children attend government-approved and recognized schools to ensure a uniform educational standard.Germany: Germany has some of the strictest legislation against homeschooling in Europe. Homeschooling is illegal, and families who attempt to homeschool their children can face fines, legal penalties, and even loss of custody of their children.Sweden: While it is technically possible to apply for permits to homeschool, regulations are so restrictive that it is practically considered prohibited. Only under exceptional circumstances, such as serious health concerns, can permits be granted, and these are extremely rare.Turkey: Homeschooling is prohibited in Turkey. Turkish law requires all children to attend state-approved schools, and no exceptions are made for homeschooling.Other countries where homeschooling is prohibited or severely restricted:
- Albania, Armenia, Azerbaiyán, Bielorrusia, Bosnia y Herzegovina, Brasil, Croacia, Cuba, Chipre, El Salvador, Georgia, Grecia, Groenlandia, Guatemala, Kazajistán, Letonia, Liechtenstein, Lituania, Macedonia del Norte, Malta, Moldavia, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Eslovaquia, Trinidad y Tobago.
Reasons and Motivations for Homeschooling
Most parents and youth decide to homeschool for more than one reason. The most common reasons given for homeschooling are the following:
- customize or individualize the curriculum and learning environment for each child,accomplish more academically than in schools, use pedagogical approaches other than those typical in institutional schools, enhance family relationships between children and parents and among siblings,provide guided and reasoned social interactions with youthful peers and adults, provide a safer environment for children and youth, because of physical violence, drugs and alcohol, psychological abuse, racism, and improper and unhealthy sexuality associated with institutional schools,as an alternative education approach when public or private institutional schools are closed due to acute health situations such as related to disease (e.g., Covid-19, Coronavirus).
Home-educated students typically score above average on the SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions
The Fraser Institute of Canada indicates that the results of studies conducted in both Canada and the United States have consistently shown that people who homeschool obtain higher scores compared to people in public educational establishments when taking standardized tests of reading comprehension, writing and mathematics.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/more-canadian-parents-opting-for-home-schooling-report/article24976467/
On the topic of socialization, President Brian Ray of the National Education Research Institute of the United States says: “Studies show that in terms of self-perception, self-esteem, and group interaction skills, homeschoolers perform just as well as their peers in traditional schools.” The research measured peer interaction, self-perception, leadership skills, family cohesion, community service participation, and self-esteem. (The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) “PBS Parents”)