A Guide To Starting Homeschool In Malaysia

If you've found your way here, you likely want to learn how to start homeschooling in Malaysia. The good news is that preparing your child for homeschooling can be done quickly here. You'll also be amazed by the things your kids can learn independently because they are such natural learners.

In contrast, your initial enthusiasm may last for a few days or perhaps a month because being a teacher to your own children can sometimes be stressful, but to prepare for homeschooling, you'll need to add structure and check off a few legal boxes. So, here are a few tips you should keep in mind before starting a homeschool in Malaysia.

What is Homeschooling?

Homeschooling is a revolutionary movement spreading across the world. It involves parents teaching their kids at home rather than enrolling them in a conventional public or private school. Families chose to homeschool for a variety of reasons, including:

• discontent with the existing educational options
• divergent religious or educational views
• the belief that kids are not developing as they should in the regular school setting

In Malaysia, homeschooling usually begins during students' secondary school years. But, most parents want to start homeschooling as soon as possible. So, for parents who are not following the traditional route of sending their children to either a public primary school or private school, their children must receive some form of education at home. This is due to the fact that the law in Malaysia has made education mandatory for children. As such, a fine will be imposed on parents who fail to ensure that their children are learning at home.

Methods of Homeschooling in Malaysia

The idea of homeschooling is essentially universal; all you require is a parent who is qualified to teach and a supply of course materials. This technique is sometimes referred to as the traditional method. However, there are other options for parents, including ones appropriate for your child.

Homeschooling parents can meet and teach their kids together in a group setting known as the Co-op. Despite common beliefs, the co-op programme encourages student socialisation, friendship-building, and teamwork.

In addition, parents can enrol their children in an established online school, hire tutors, or send them to a learning centre where they can freely explore their surroundings. One of the advantages of homeschooling is that parents and kids are not restricted to a specific curriculum or set of subjects.

Benefits of Homeschooling

Homeschooling your child offers various benefits for both you and your child, which include:

Freedom and Flexibility

Most public schools mandate that classes go at the same pace, regardless of whether the students understand the content or not. But because they can learn at their own pace and independently in a homeschool system, your kids may advance more quickly or understand the content better than their friends.

Less Peer Pressure

The peer pressure surrounding a public school won't affect your children. Homeschooling doesn't necessarily mean isolation; your child can still interact with friends regularly.

Allows You To Be A Proactive Parent

You, as the parent, are responsible for supervising or assisting in guiding your child's homeschooling. As a result, you'll be able to support your child with their schoolwork better, and the both of you may become closer than before.

How To Set Up Homeschooling In Malaysia

Here is a guide to get you started if you're new to homeschooling, unsure where to start, or what supplies you'll need.

Research on the different approaches to homeschooling

A homeschool system is an approach or style you choose to educate your children. Different homeschooling methods have an influence on the curriculum you choose and may also have an impact on your daily life. While some approaches are primarily child-focused, others are more learning-focused.

Standard homeschooling techniques include:

• School-at-home: Due to its simplicity, the school-at-home method is the one that is most frequently portrayed in the media. The majority of families using the school-at-home strategy buy a boxed curriculum that includes textbooks, study plans, grades, and record keeping. Some families choose the school-at-home option, but they create their own lesson plans and gather their own resources. The benefit of this approach is that families are well aware of what and when to teach certain subjects.
• “Relaxed” or Eclectic Homeschooling: The approach that is most frequently used by homeschoolers is "relaxed" or "eclectic" homeschooling. For the most part, eclectic homeschoolers mix and match different teaching methods, using workbooks for maths, reading, and spelling and an unschooling approach for the other subjects. With this approach, the family can select textbooks, outings, and lessons based on their needs and areas of interest, and they can explore the things in-depth that they see as being most essential.
• Classical: A Classical curriculum, one of the oldest methods of instruction, is made to progress with children as they approach different developmental stages. It enables the student to master skills when they are mentally and physically prepared to do so. The Trivium, or three learning stages, reflect children's developmental stages through grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
• Unschooling: Unschooling, which should not be confused with deschooling, is a type of homeschooling that solely focuses on the interests of the child. Textbooks and courses are only used if they satisfy a child's curiosity about what is in them. Students don't have a set class schedule, assignments, quizzes, or regular projects to complete. Unschooling enables kids to pursue their interests at their own pace and in their own time while also letting them be kids.

Deschooling

Deschooling is the practice of giving your kids little to no official education for a while after they leave school before giving them a new start at home. This approach is very beneficial if your child has had a challenging school experience.

Moreover, deschooling can help your child build better learning habits, reset from the hardships of a regular school system, or recover from tough or hurtful experiences at school. Changes in learning expectations for both you and your child can be made over time.

Additionally, deschooling can ease the transition to homeschooling regardless of your prior academic background. Contrary to popular belief, deschooling does not imply that you lack a schedule. The only requirement is that you have no formal education. However, informal learning will still occur naturally even though you won't be giving formal classes.

Understand your child's study style

Your ability to modify your children's education to meet their specific learning needs will improve as you get to know and understand them better. Getting to know your kids could involve observing what discourages them from studying and understanding the learning style that keeps them motivated.

Children process information using various methods of learning. Most kids learn better when their educational experiences match their learning preferences. All kids learn more effectively when they can interact with information using several senses or when learning is done in a multi-sensory manner.

Create A Study Schedule

The flexibility and spontaneity that homeschooling offers children's education are great. But without a clear schedule, it is easy to become sidetracked and lose focus on your goals. Children excel when they have a basic routine and schedule.

Consider developing and keeping to a daily schedule. Though adjustments are always possible, having a daily routine will help you stay on track.

Pick A Curriculum

A key resource for your homeschooling journey is your curriculum. Given its significance, it's fair to allocate time to research various programs and choose one that meets your requirements.

While researching, seek for curriculum publishers who satisfy the expectations of your family, your objectives, and your children's learning needs.

Finding A Homeschool In Malaysia

Looking for a homeschool? Check out Enso International Academy! Enso International Academy provides a challenging atmosphere that inspires and supports children with disabilities to become independent learners in a global community through meaningful activities. With a strong emphasis on building essential academic skills as well as catering to a diversity of student abilities and interests, their highly experienced academic director has created a curriculum to increase possibilities for all unique learners to enjoy learning. To provide your child with the finest opportunity for academic success and achievement as well as for holistic growth and development in life, the curriculum is based on the English National Curriculum and is made up of intriguing, captivating modules.

Your Child Deserve The Best Learning Experience They Can Get

Homeschooling is becoming more common and regarded as one of the mainstream educational options in Malaysia. Although it is hard work, you won't regret it when you realise how much your child enjoys discovering new things daily.