Homeschooling and alternative education in India

The legality of homeschooling in India and a plethora of Alternative Education schools spread over different states has been debated by educators, lawmakers, and parents since the passing of The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act also known as RTE which makes formal education a fundamental right of every child between the ages of 6 to 14 and specifies minimum norms for schools. However, there have been petitions by parents and alternate schools for granting relief [1][2]

History of alternative schooling in India

In India, from the early 20th century, some educational theorists discussed and implemented radically different forms of education. Rabindranath Tagore's Visva-Bharati University, Sri Aurobindo's Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education and Mahatma Gandhi's ideal of "basic education" are prime examples.

In recent years, many new alternative schools have been formed.[3][4]

Methodology of homeschooling in India

As prevalent worldwide, homeschoolers in India use a wide variety of methods and materials including their own methods. Though there is no actual data available, most prevalent methods in India are Montessori method, Unschooling, Radical Unschooling, Waldorf education and School-at-home. Some of these approaches like Montessori and Waldorf, are also available in school settings. Many homeschoolers follow formal education methods [5] at home through CBSE, NIOS or NOS and IGCSE

Support groups

There are many support groups for Alternative schools and Homeschoolers in India but most of them are only on the Internet. Many of the Homeschoolers who interact in these groups are based in major urban Indian cities - Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, N.Delhi and Kolkata. However, there is considerable presence of homeschoolers in smaller Indian cities and other states who either independently educate their children or who are associated with many of the alternative schools.

Prominent Internet mailing lists and groups include Alternative Education India (Open and Moderated),[6] Pune Homeschoolers (Open and Moderated),[7] alt-learn-blr (A Bangalore-based group of Homeschoolers & Alternative learners).[8] and indiahomeschoolers.ning.com site,[9] Swashikshan - Association of Indian Homeschoolers: www.homeschoolers.in

Recently, in 2010, a new Facebook group - India Group for Homeschoolers & Alternative Education has also been started (open to all).[10]

Media reports about homeschooling

Recent reports in mid-2010 in Indian newspapers about Sahal Kaushik highlighted how homeschooled children in India could also enter mainstream education fields.[11] An India Today article describes about homeschooling parents in Pune (John and Urmila Samson) and also about Homeschooled candidates in other parts of India.[12] Articles published in The Indian Express in May/June 2010 describe India's current situation as regards to Homeschooling as well as the legality involved.[13][14]

References

  1. ↑ "National Consultation on the impact of the RTE Act on Alternative/ Innovative schools - July 14, 2010". Multiworldindia.org. 2010-04-13. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  2. ↑ "Legal issues related to RTE and Alternative schools / Homeschooling in India". Alternativeeducationindia.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  3. ↑ "A list of some Alternative schools in India". Alternativeeducationindia.net. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  4. ↑ "A list of alternative schools based on Waldorf method in India". Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  5. ↑ "Net-savvy parents find a great alternative to traditional schools: their home". Rediff.com. 2003-05-21. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  6. ↑ "Alt Ed India Yahoo group". Groups.yahoo.com. 2001-11-17. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  7. ↑ Pune Homeschoolers Google Group
  8. ↑ Bangalore Homeschoolers & Alternative learners Google Group
  9. ↑ India Home Schoolers ning site
  10. ↑ "India Group for Homeschoolers & Alternative Education". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  11. ↑ "Homeschooled 14-yr-old tops Delhi IIT entrance - 27 May 2010 Hindustan Times, India". Hindustantimes.com. 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  12. ↑ Malini Bhupta (2010-05-16). "The De-school brigade - 16 May 2010". Indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  13. ↑ "Plea dismissed, but homeschooling still a grey area by Chinki Sinha - Indian Express - 31 May 2010". Indian Express. 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  14. ↑ "We don't need education by Chinki Sinha - Indian Express - 3 June 2010". Indian Express. 2010-06-03. Retrieved 2010-09-01.

External links

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