Homeschool

[makeupgirl]

Any parents that are currently homeschool your own children? I would like to hear from you, your experience, courage and support!!

I am currently homeschooling my 5-year-old girl. Have a 2-year-old boy that always disturb the sister, and a demanding 6-month-old baby. Recently feeling tired because the kids are getting naughtier, and also getting pressure from my mom-in-law for not sending the girl to kindergarten.

[coleslaw]

may i ask why you decide on home school and for how long?

[kwchang]

There was a homeschool community in USJ some years ago and they had a website called Family Place. The following link to that website is not working now, hence I wonder if that community is still here. When I googled for it, I found a link to a pdf document dated Jan 2007, hence they must be still operational (in USJ Goodyear Court 9) but the website is having difficulties loading at this moment. Try it and see.

While googling, I also found another homeschool community under the Meetup website. I am sorry, I cannot verify the sincerity of that link, I guess you will need to check it yourself.

[evelynlim]

Family place is conducting a a parenting dialogue on Engaged Parenting: "Learning to Think"
on April 14 (Sat) at 3.00pm at Taska Belaian Kasih, No.16 Jalan USJ 4/3, UEP
Subang Jaya. PLease regeister yourself via email info@familyplace.com.my
and give your email and tel numbers. There is no charge for the dialogue
session.
The person in charge of FamilyPlace is Wai Leng.

[makeupgirl]

There was a homeschool community in USJ some years ago and they had a website called Family Place. The following link to that website is not working now, hence I wonder if that community is still here. When I googled for it, I found a link to a pdf document dated Jan 2007, hence they must be still operational (in USJ Goodyear Court 9) but the website is having difficulties loading at this moment. Try it and see.

While googling, I also found another homeschool community under the Meetup website. I am sorry, I cannot verify the sincerity of that link, I guess you will need to check it yourself.

Thanks kwchang for your info. I heard about familyplace, I think they are still there, just that the website is not updated. I did not check out further since I only be in SJ during weekend only.

Well, I am feeling good right now... guess that just some stress that need to go thru (or to be "released" ) sometimes. After I read a book, review again my purpose and goal of doing it, I am re-charge to move on.

Thanks everyone

[makeupgirl]

may i ask why you decide on home school and for how long?

This is not a simple one line answer. We (me and my husband) make the decision after we saw the good results (from my homeschool friends' kids); plus I check out some books and websites.

Everyone has their own reason, the few main reasons I go for it are:
The history of how school system came about ==>
http://rachelcity.blogspot.com/2007/...eschool-2.html

The socialization method I prefer ==>
http://koinonia-all.org/homeschool/socialization.htm

The way I want my family to live ==>
http://koinonia-all.org/homeschool/wayoflife.htm

For how long? Hopefully until year6 or year8. Then may be let them join a centre to complete year12 or higher [= to A-level], then see later if we can financially support them to uni.

[makeupgirl]

Family place is conducting a a parenting dialogue on Engaged Parenting: "Learning to Think"
on April 14 (Sat) at 3.00pm at Taska Belaian Kasih, No.16 Jalan USJ 4/3, UEP
Subang Jaya. PLease regeister yourself via email info@familyplace.com.my
and give your email and tel numbers. There is no charge for the dialogue
session.
The person in charge of FamilyPlace is Wai Leng.

Hi Evelyn, thanks for the info. Is Family Place an education centre? homeschool community? or...?? And, how can I get future notification of events from Family Place?

[emw]

I thought homeschooling was now illegal in Malaysia? If it's not, I would be interested to learn more about how you get permission from the MOE.
Cheers,
Ellen

[evelynlim]

Hi Evelyn, thanks for the info. Is Family Place an education centre? homeschool community? or...?? And, how can I get future notification of events from Family Place?

Family Place is not an educational centre. The founder, Wai Leng actually homeschool her children. I met her once & some other members of the community. I have not been to the website for quite a while , I got the information through email from FamilyPlace. You may actually write to her for more information.
Cheers.

[makeupgirl]

I thought homeschooling was now illegal in Malaysia? If it's not, I would be interested to learn more about how you get permission from the MOE.
Cheers,
Ellen

Homeschooling is allowed with special permission from the Ministry of Education. The guidelines are still unclear. There has been no legal case thus far.

As for me, because I am a christian, I can register with Grace Resource Centre, a Homeschooling Ministry of Grace Assembly. And I will be using LIFEPAC (Alpha Omega Publications Award-Winning Work Text Curriculum) to teach at home.

[emw]

Interesting. A real challenge. Good luck! E.

[SunwayKid]

Homeschooling is allowed with special permission from the Ministry of Education. The guidelines are still unclear. There has been no legal case thus far..........

I could be wrong but as far as I am aware, MOE has not given special permission to anyone. And IMHO, based on what I have seen in the home schooling materials, it is unlikely that approval will be given.

According to the MOE website,
Compulsory education at the primary level is a law that requires parents, as citizens of Malaysia and residing in Malaysia, to register their children at primary schools upon reaching the age of six years. The duration of compulsory education is the same as primary education, that is, six years.

Compulsory education was implemented at the beginning of the school year of 2003 with Year 1 pupils. This policy is aimed at educating parents and society and ensuring that primary education is given to every child. Failure to do so is an offence against the law. If found guilty, parents can be fined not more than RM5000 or jailed not more than 6 months, or both.

[makeupgirl]

Yeah, I read the website before. The purpose of the policy is to make sure those parents in kampung areas will make the effort to give their children education (because some of them don't bother, and the kids are let running around the hutan).

As for the permission, the Grace Resource Centre did got special arrangement with it. On the other hand, I have a friend whom he individually wanted to get the permission because his family travelling with him very frequently due to his job, and homeschooling is best suit his situation. However, he has been applying before his son started year1, until now he still have not gotten a solid reply... (by the way, his son is studying year6 now. )

Homeschool is not that new in Malaysia, I know people whom kids have done it, and they have entered University oversea. Currently also seeing quite some young families doing it. Besides, our local papers (NST, star) did interviewed some parents and published their stories. I don't think the reporters will report it if it is something against the law.

[SunwayKid]

Using pirated software at home is illegal under the law. Just because the authorities practices the one eye close concept doesn't make it right. The fact that your friend has not got a postive reply would reaffirm the MOE's policy.

Newspapers published everything that is newsworthy which is why crime, murder and rape always carry the headlines. The fact that something is reported doesn't gazette it as legal.

Anyhow, having seen the home schooling syallabus, I believe it is quite challenging compared against the curriculum the MOE is practicing at primary schools. If the intention is to continue the tertiary education abroad or pursue an overseas degree, it will shave some years off the education years. The downside is that it is likely a one way street and whether MOE will allow one back to the local system should one change their mind or their personal financial situation change - that is a question mark.

[kayvee2]

Thanks for highlighting FamilyPlace. There are whole of information on homeschooling in Malaysia including a fairly comprehensive FAQ and activities. You will have to, however, sign into MALHEN (follow the link in "home Education" section) to access some if these info. Should you need to talk to us email us personally at info@familyplace.com.my and we can communciate more.

Familyplace updates its site a couple of times each month, you can sign up to receive updates.

Meanwhile, you are welcome to join us this coming Sat, April 14 for our dialogue.

Regards,
KV