Wang Yuanyuan

    cheekywang@hotmail.com

    ALTHOUGH some parents like Guo Zhongqi hope to continue teaching their children at home until they are in high school or university, it is very difficult to realize it under current education policy.

    “Compulsory education is an obligation for parents and children. It is illegal if parents leave their children alone at home without any education, but the law does not specifically say that it is legal if parents teach them lessons,” said Hou Chunlei, a lawyer from a Guangdong Pinran Law Firm.

    Meanwhile, it is also very difficult when the children return to the traditional school education system.

    “The school roll is a big problem. If Sichen wants to go back to school or apply for the college entrance examination, she has to have a school roll, but it is impossible for her to get one under current policies,” Guo said.

    Some parents think that they can register at one school and apply to educate their children at home.

    “This can work, but most schools may reject the requirement. Once a student is registered at the school, the school will be responsible for the student. If the student dies or commits some crime during his homeschooling period, the school still has to take responsibility. Meanwhile, if the student’s studying is very poor, the school’s quality and evaluation will also be affected, so most of the schools will not want to take the risk,” Hou said.

    Homeschooling is not a new thing in some overseas countries. In the United States, number of children receiving education at home accounts for about 2 percent of the total number of students at middle schools and primary schools.

    In some states, students can study at home after being approved by the government and register at the “full-time home education system.” Parents can get free textbooks and will participate in exchange activities to share their experience on a regular basis. Students can go back to school anytime they want.

    “I think that Shenzhen can also learn from these experiences to create conditions for special families like us. School education is not the only educational method and society should offer more choices for families and students,” Guo said.