By Edwin C.
Singapore is a major global commerce, finance, and transportation hub serving as a bridge between the East and the West. The Port of Singapore is the second-busiest in the world by cargo tonnage. Singapore attracts a large amount of foreign investment as a result of its location, stable political environment, skilled workforce, low tax rates, advanced infrastructure, beautification/green efforts, and zero tolerance against crime and corruption. There are many foreign students and workers residing in Singapore. With over 7,000 multinational companies operating here, global citizens feel right at home. Most expatriates in Singapore are employed in finance, logistics, information technology, engineering, or a similar industry.
Singapore is a cosmopolitan city-state that retains much of the charm from its British colonial days while also offering a modern, well-developed environment. The island nation is home to a diversity of languages, religions, and cultures, with English as the official language. Although Singapore is highly influenced by American and Western culture, it still has a deeply rooted Asian conservatism. Singapore also maintains strong ties with the Israeli Defense Force. Even so, Singapore is often referred to as the “Switzerland of Asia” due to its neutrality on international issues. On 12 June 2018, Singapore hosted a historic summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the first-ever meeting between the sitting leaders of the two nations. People around the world focused their attention on Singapore and became interested in the Singaporean way of life. Maybe you’d like to travel or move here!
Introduction to Homeschooling in Singapore
If you are new to homeschooling in Singapore, then the first question you should ask is – Is homeschooling legal in Singapore? And the answer is yes, it is legal to homeschool in Singapore! The country formally legalized homeschooling through the codification of the Compulsory Education Act in 2000. Children are required to attend public school for at least six years between ages 6 and 15; however, exemptions to this mandate are allowed and include homeschooling. As far as the compulsory education laws are concerned, they do not affect the expatriates (foreigners living in the country).
Homeschooling is a relatively new concept here, but it is practiced by both expats and native Singaporeans. Homeschooling is a major step in a family’s life. If you are feeling overwhelmed about making the decision and having butterflies every time you think about it, be sure that you are not alone. It’s a choice that is going to shape your child’s future and you will have to put in a lot of commitment on your part.
But things do not have to be this difficult. Homeschooling does bring along a lot of advantages and let this post help you to make a stress-free decision.
Here are some useful tips for you about things you must do, steps you must take and processes you must walk through to make an informed choice. Hope this helps you to ascertain that you and your child are ready for homeschooling in Singapore and guarantee a bright future for your children.
6 Useful Tips On Homeschooling in Singapore
- Read and understand every line of the homeschooling laws
Before you take the leap, you must go through the homeschooling laws that your state maintains. For example, parents in Singapore will have to apply to the Ministry of Education for their child to be exempted from compulsory attendance for homeschooling. Take note of the requirements, and the documents you need to maintain. There are separate laws if your child is already registered into a public school and see what all you need to do to make the transfer. All these will help you to decide the right time to enroll your child for homeschooling. You do not want a situation where you pull your kid out from a public school only to find that he/she is not eligible for homeschooling for another year. Take your time and do your research.
- Make the choice and stick to it
You shouldn’t opt for homeschooling just because someone told you that it is the right option for every child. It should be a well informed decision, a choice that you’ll have to make and stick to with full commitment. For this, make a list of the pros and cons that come to your mind about homeschooling your child and see which one is weighing more.
Bring both your child and spouse into the loop. Seek out other family members whose opinion you trust. A friend with homeschooling experience will be of great help. Take in all the suggestions and decide if your family is ready for homeschooling in Singapore courses. And if you are still confused, there’s always the next tip.
- Find a support group and be an active member
If you are considering homeschooling in Singapore you must make an effort to connect with other homeschool parents. There are many online support groups and discussion forums where homeschooling newbies and veterans come together to help each other. There are also local groups in Singapore which aim to provide social activities and moral support to homeschooling families of diverse backgrounds. These communities can help you with kick start your homeschooling journey with ease. Experienced parents will help you in the decision-making process while your peers, the new entrants in this field, can help you to communicate. Being around people with a similar mindset goes a long way to help you. Children can also use such communities by meeting with fellow students who are getting homeschooled in Singapore.
- Select the right subjects for your child
After you have made the decision, selecting the right curriculum will be your next major hurdle. In your application, you will find a list of interesting subjects and this will most certainly make you feel that your child must learn all. In the process, you might end up over-selecting, paying unnecessarily high amounts and burden your child.
The best way to deal with this is to ask the child which subject interests him/her. Accordingly, you can choose the curriculum that revolves around the child’s interests. If science is what your child names, then mathematics is a must. There’s no point in forcing national history into the list. A homeschooling program like International Schooling offers a convenient schooling option with a comprehensive and globally relevant curriculum.
- Prepare a schedule and give everyone time to adjust
The main difference of homeschooling with standard schooling is that it is you who sets the schedule. When to get up, which subject to study on which day, and even the time to take a break. This factor can help the learner and the tutor in many ways. For example, if your child performs best in the afternoon, you shouldn’t set a morning study hour for him/her.
Take note of your child’s behaviour and interests and plan your schedule accordingly to include school, work and play. But it will also depend on when you or your spouse is available during the day. Many expat parents who move to Singapore opt for online schooling if they don’t have time to homeschool their children themselves.
- Keep gathering experience from conventions and other families
Institutes and enthusiasts keep conducting conventions and workshops just to help new homeschoolers like you. Scan through the internet once in a while to find out such conventions and enroll into them. Such events are more than just handing out leaflets and books. You will often find expert speakers sharing their wisdom and providing you tips on how to homeschool your child in the best possible way.
Also, keep track of other families who are homeschooling in your vicinity. If your children are enrolled in the same grade, you can really get together to share valuable notes. This will also help your child to gain some exposure to the outside world and make new friends along the way. You may pick up on a few homeschooling methods that the other family is following and consider sharing your experience with them.
The bottom line
Without a doubt, homeschooling in Singapore is an important decision, but it is also a decision that will help your child’s future. Your child will learn what he or she wants to and build on what they find interest in. Don’t shy away from taking help from available sources like International Schooling Blog and grow while living the experience.
Let being overwhelmed be the last feeling you have about homeschooling in Singapore. Good luck!
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