Home-schooling will not be a last-minute option for parents exploring the option of pulling their children from the Territory’s school system. This was explained by Minister of Education, Dr. the Hon. Natalio Wheatley in a live forum held last night.
When the Education Minister explained what he meant by home schooling he said “By homeschooling, I mean parents who pull their children out of our schools, whether online schools or brick or mortar schools, and educate these children themselves or with a tutor.”
He said there are clear procedures that are outlined in Section 89 of the Education Act, 2004, which governs homeschooling in the Territory and parents must fulfil the requirements of the Act, if they were considering this option.
The Minister further explained that the deadline to request permission to home-school children have passed.
Permission must be requested 3 months before the commencement of the home education programme.
“Prior to the commencement of a home education programme, it has to be registered with the ministry. The process includes providing an educational plan for each student who’s receiving home education to the Chief Education Officer three months prior to the home education programme,” Dr. Wheatley explained.