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{{short description|Overview of the situation of 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 [[educator]]s, [[lawmaker]]s, and [[parent]]s since the passing of the [[Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act]] (RTE) which makes formal education a fundamental right of every child between the ages of 6 to 14 and specifies minimum norms for schools. While the legality of [[homeschooling]] still remains a grey area, there have been petitions by parents and alternate schools in the past for granting relief.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://homeschoolingindia.in/homeschooling-legal-india/ |title=Is homeschooling legal in India? |publisher=homeschoolingindia.in |accessdate=2018-01-11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://alternativeeducationindia.wordpress.com/legal-issues/ |title=Legal issues related to RTE and Alternative schools / Homeschooling in India |publisher=Alternativeeducationindia.wordpress.com |date= |accessdate=2010-09-01}}</ref> As per the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] to which India is a signatory, quote: "Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translations/eng.pdf |title=Universal Declaration of Human Rights |publisher=ohchr.org |accessdate=2018-01-12 }}</ref>

==History of alternative schooling in India==
In India, from the early 20th century, certain [[Educational sciences|educational theorists]] have discussed and implemented radically different forms of education. [[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s [[Visva-Bharati University]], [[Sri Aurobindo]]'s Sri Aurobindo International Center of Education<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sriaurobindoashram.org/ashram/saice/ |title=Sri Aurobindo International Center of Education |publisher=sriaurobindoashram.org |date= |accessdate=2018-01-11}}</ref> and [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s ideal of "basic education"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/31DR.HADIBANDHUBEHERA |title=EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OF MAHATMA GANDHI WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CURRICULUM OF BASIC EDUCATION |publisher=International Education and Research Journal |date= |accessdate=2018-01-11}}</ref> are prime examples.

In recent years, many new alternative schools have cropped up.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alternativeeducationindia.net/altschools.htm |title=A list of some Alternative schools in India |publisher=Alternativeeducationindia.net |accessdate=2010-09-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728072623/http://www.alternativeeducationindia.net/altschools.htm |archivedate=2010-07-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anthroposophyindia.org/downloads/waldorf_education.doc |title=A list of alternative schools based on Waldorf method in India |date= |accessdate=2010-09-01}}</ref>

==Methodology of homeschooling in India==
Homeschoolers in India use a wide variety of methods and materials, at par with international norms, and often customized to fit individual learning styles. Though there is no actual data available, the most prevalent methods in India are [[Montessori method]], [[Unschooling]], [[Radical Unschooling]], [[Waldorf education]] and traditional School-at-home. Some of these approaches like Montessori and Waldorf are also available in school settings. Many homeschoolers follow formal education methods at home through [[Central Board of Secondary Education|CBSE]], [[National Institute of Open Schooling|NIOS]] (formerly NOS) and [[International General Certificate of Secondary Education|IGCSE]]. Of these, IGCSE and NIOS are especially suited for homeschoolers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homeschoolers.in/boards-and-homeschoolers/ |title=Boards and Homeschoolers |publisher=homeschoolers.in |date= |accessdate=2018-01-11}}</ref> As the popularity of homeschooling increases, there are many online homeschooling providers entering the market, the oldest being [[Wolsey Hall, Oxford]] which was established in 1894 <ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qdfYAQAAQBAJ&q=%22Wolsey+Hall%2C+Oxford%22&pg=PA161 | title=Education Since 1800 | publisher=Routledge | last=Morrish | first=Ivor | year=2013 | page=161 | isbn=9781134532513 | orig-year=First published 1970}}</ref>

To help students from Class 5 to Class 12 to benefit from homeschooling, the Maharashtra government on January 10, 2019, launched ‘Open SSC board’.
Education Minister Vinod Tawde said in a Tweet that the Maharashtra Rajya Mukta Vidyalay Mandal is a platform for athletes, artists, disabled people, seniors and anyone who wishes to continue their academic journey while pursuing others interests and obligations surpassing all hurdles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/with-maharashtra-govt-s-open-ssc-board-students-will-be-able-to-keep-pursuing-sports-arts-360332.html |title=Maharashtra Government Open SSC Board |publisher=indiatimes.com |date= |accessdate=2019-03-11}}</ref>

==Support groups==
There are many Internet-based support groups for Alternative schoolers or Homeschoolers in India, with most participants based in major urban Indian cities. However, there is a considerable presence of homeschoolers in small towns who either independently educate their children or who are associated with alternative schools.

Some prominent Internet resources include
* Alternative Education India,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://groups.yahoo.com/group/alt-ed-india |title=Alt Ed India Yahoo group |publisher=Groups.yahoo.com |date=2001-11-17 |accessdate=2010-09-01}}</ref>
* Pune Homeschoolers
* Swashikshan – Indian Association of Homeschoolers<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homeschoolers.in/ |title=Swashikshan |publisher=homeschoolers.in |date= |accessdate=2018-01-11}}</ref>
* Cascade Family Learning Society – A Society for Home Schooled Children in Chennai, India<ref>[https://cascadefls.org Cascade Family Learning Society]</ref>
* [[Montessori Worldwide School]]
* Homeschooling by Handholding<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aanganchaura.com/ |title=Aangan Chaura}}</ref>
* Playgic childhood freedom advicacy<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.playgic.com/ |title=Playgic unschooling}}</ref>

In addition, there are conferences, social meetups, apprenticeships and several other organized group activities that allow for knowledge-sharing on a regular basis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/bangalore/cover-story/unschool-is-so-cool-parents-look-at-alternative-forms-of-learning/articleshow/61800104.cms |title=Unschool is so cool: Parents look at alternative forms of learning – 26 Nov 2017 Bangalore Mirror, India |publisher=bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com |date=2017-11-26 |accessdate=2018-01-11 }}</ref>

==Media reports about homeschooling==
In recent years, quite a few homeschooled children in India have made a splash by being accepted into top higher education institutions such as the [[Indian Institutes of Technology|IIT]] and [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Delhi-IIT-JEE-topper-is-just-14-homeschooled/articleshow/5978684.cms |title=Delhi IIT-JEE topper is just 14 & homeschooled – 27 May 2010 Times of India, India |publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2010-05-27 |accessdate=2018-01-11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/i-dislike-the-entire-schooling-system-says-mom-of-homeschooled-teenager-who-makes-it-to-mit/story-hM4iJW9O19ACfmpp4z6zCP.html |title=All parents can opt for homeschooling: MIT girl Malvika Joshi’s mother – 31 Aug 2016 Hindustan Times, India |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=2016-08-31 |accessdate=2018-01-11 }}</ref> A number of them also choose to be integrated into mainstream education at some point.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://firstmomsclub.in/homeschooling-in-india-some-key-findings-and-myths-busted/ |title=Homeschooling in India – Some Key Findings and Myths Busted – 19 Sep 2017 First Moms Club, India |publisher=firstmomsclub.in |date=2017-09-19 |accessdate=2018-01-11 }}</ref> Some prominent homeschoolers include education entrepreneur, Satya Narayanan R., founder of the "Career Launcher" entrance coaching platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/education/story/20100524-the-de-school-brigade-742933-2010-05-16 |title=The De-school brigade – 16 May 2010 India Today, India |publisher=indiatoday.in |date=2010-05-16 |accessdate=2018-01-11 }}</ref> Some estimates say as many as 15,000 Indian families have decided to keep their children from going to school, choosing instead to develop individual caliber holistically within the community machinery,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/society/article/hey-teachers-leave-our-kids-alone-is-%E2%80%98unschooling%E2%80%99-becoming-a-trend-in-urban-india/180962 |title=Hey Teachers! Leave our kids alone: Is ‘Unschooling’ becoming a trend in urban India? – 21 Dec 2017 Hindustan Times, India |publisher=timesnownews.com |date=2017-12-21 |accessdate=2018-01-11 }}</ref> specially as safety has become a prime concern for parents nowadays.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/homeschooling-piques-interest-of-parents-in-mumbai/articleshow/60978316.cms |title=Homeschooling piques interest of parents in Mumbai – 07 Oct 2017 Times of India, India |publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2017-10-07 |accessdate=2018-01-11 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.homeschoolers.in/ Swashikshan – Indian Association of Homeschoolers]
* [http://www.alternativeeducationindia.net/ Alternative Education in India]
* [http://www.nios.ac.in/ NIOS Official Website] – Indian Government recognised board for Home education
* [https://wolseyhalloxford.org.uk/ Wolsey Hall Oxford] - the oldest established homeschooling course provider
* [http://www.cie.org.uk/askciext/contactus/index_html_orig?region_id=2 IGCSE / CIE India contact details]

{{Homeschooling}}

[[Category:Homeschooling by country|India]]
[[Category:Education in India]]

Homeschooling and alternative education in India - Revision history

UpdateBot at 13:38, 24 May 2022