jeffooi
13-12-2002, 08:16 AM
STRAITS TIMES Singapore
Friday, December 13, 2002
<font size="+1">Ministry gives home schooling the green light </font>
This is even as its compulsory education policy for all children at primary level takes effect next month
KUALA LUMPUR - The Education Ministry has given the go-ahead for home-based schooling as its compulsory education policy for children at primary level takes effect next month.
A law passed in March made it mandatory for all children to be enrolled in primary schools next year.
Some 15,000 children fail to do so each year.
Education director-general Abdul Rafie Mahat said parents intending to teach their children at home must ask for permission from the state education department.
However, home-based schooling must be conducted at home by parents and not at commercial premises such as shophouses or at tuition centres, he added.
For these children between the ages of seven and 12 who have not been to school before, Datuk Abdul Rafie said they would have to attend special 'accelerated learning classes' to help them cope when they entered secondary school.
Last year, three million pupils enrolled in primary schools nationwide.
Datuk Abdul Rafie, however, said no immediate action would be taken against parents who fail to send their children to school as the ministry was adopting a consultative approach.
--The Star/ Asia News Network, New Straits Times
FULL STORY:
http://www.straitstimes.com.sg/asia/story/0,4386,160416,00.html?
Friday, December 13, 2002
<font size="+1">Ministry gives home schooling the green light </font>
This is even as its compulsory education policy for all children at primary level takes effect next month
KUALA LUMPUR - The Education Ministry has given the go-ahead for home-based schooling as its compulsory education policy for children at primary level takes effect next month.
A law passed in March made it mandatory for all children to be enrolled in primary schools next year.
Some 15,000 children fail to do so each year.
Education director-general Abdul Rafie Mahat said parents intending to teach their children at home must ask for permission from the state education department.
However, home-based schooling must be conducted at home by parents and not at commercial premises such as shophouses or at tuition centres, he added.
For these children between the ages of seven and 12 who have not been to school before, Datuk Abdul Rafie said they would have to attend special 'accelerated learning classes' to help them cope when they entered secondary school.
Last year, three million pupils enrolled in primary schools nationwide.
Datuk Abdul Rafie, however, said no immediate action would be taken against parents who fail to send their children to school as the ministry was adopting a consultative approach.
--The Star/ Asia News Network, New Straits Times
FULL STORY:
http://www.straitstimes.com.sg/asia/story/0,4386,160416,00.html?