Government data reveals 6425 Victorian children now being homeschooled
More than 6,000 Victorian children were homeschooled last year, a 27 per cent increase in just three years. Here is why more and more families are turning their back on traditional schooling.
VIC News
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The number of Victorian children being homeschooled has surged 27 per cent in three years as more families shun the traditional education system.
On the cusp of the new school year, the Herald Sun can reveal 6425 children were homeschooled in 2019, up from 5059 in 2016.
Advocates say easy online access to learning materials and communities of homeschooling families has fuelled the increase in parents choosing to educate their children themselves.
A Home Education Network survey found 60 per cent of children being educated at home had been withdrawn from a school, while 40 per cent had always been taught by their parents.
The ability to tailor an individual education to a child was the key driver in families choosing to homeschool.
Last year, 1826 children were homeschooled in southwest Victoria, and another 1584 children were homeschooled in northeast Victoria — down from 1653 the year before.
In southeast Victoria, there were 1642 students being homeschooled, and 1373 in the state’s northwest.
That compared to 988,436 children enrolled in formal primary, secondary and special schools across the state.
Since 2018, parents who educate their children at home have been required to register with the government and lodge a learning plan. Children must be educated across eight key areas including English, maths, science and physical education.
Education Minister James Merlino said the changes ensured “we strike the right balance between making sure homeschooled students get the education they need and giving homeschool families the freedom to deliver their child’s education”.
Opposition education spokeswoman Cindy McLeish said she was not surprised by the increase in children being homeschooled.
“More and more I meet families who have made the choice to home school their children for a variety of reasons,” she said.
“Parents are best placed to make decisions about the education of their children and Daniel Andrews must ensure that parents who make the choice to educate their children at home are supported.”
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Home Education Network spokeswoman Sue Wight said local groups had formed across Victoria so homeschooling families could get together for group lessons and excursions.
“All of those things give kids lots of socialising opportunity and the opportunity to learn in groups,” she said.
“People worry sometimes about where to get resources, but it’s all at your fingertips … You treat your world as your classroom.”