Ideology of Homeschooling: Experiences, Expectations, Needs and Guidelines

Abstract

Chinese parents, who are strongly influenced by Confucian culture, universally prioritise education, viewing it as a crucial factor in determining their children’s future achievements. Nevertheless, several parents possess reservations regarding the conventional exam-focused educational system, as they worry it can suppress pupils’ originality, inventiveness, and critical thinking skills. Consequently, they opt for homeschooling as an alternative. Although homeschooling is illegal in China, this hasn’t deterred some young parents from settling in other countries to gain exposure to more Western educational philosophies, resources, and experiences to supplement their homeschooling plans. They aspire to provide their children with a more comprehensive and diverse education by incorporating Western insights and methodologies. Therefore, this study utilises a qualitative methodology by conducting interviews with 24 homeschooling families. The aim is to explore the motives and strategies of these families regarding homeschooling. The study specifically focuses on Chinese parents who are homeschooling their children in Thailand. Initial indications indicate that parents’ motivations mostly arise from a predilection for customised instruction and discontentment with the examination-focused educational system, and conviction in the value of bilingual education. Moreover, the data indicates that adolescents who are homeschooled demonstrate comparable or superior academic achievement and socio-emotional functioning compared to their peers who attend traditional schools. This study provides suggestions and strategies for Chinese parents to augment their understanding of homeschooling.