New Zealand
is among the Western countries that have seen a significant rise in homeschooling since Covid-19. The number of homeschoolers has increased exponentially to 80% since the beginning of the pandemic. More than 2000 students are opting for homeschooling since the beginning of 2022. This has also caused concern among the traditional school authorities about the standard of education being imparted at home.
Homeschooling has grown in the following pattern in these regions of New Zealand:
- The highest increase in homeschooling has been seen in
Northland andSouthland at 91% and 86% respectively, since the appearance of New Zealand’s first Covid case.
Northland had 516 homeschoolers back in March 2020, when New Zealand got its first covid case which increased to almost 1000 by July 2022. - These were followed by Auckland and the Bay of Plenty, both of which had an 80% increase in homeschooling.
- The lowest increase was recorded in Waikato and
Wellington at 45% and 56% respectively. - Homeschooling surged particularly in November and December 2021, after the mask mandate for older primary school children, aged above 4 years.
New Zealand Rural School Leadership Association presidentAndrew King noted that the rural schools specifically had a jump from 3 to 20% in homeschooling after the mask mandates were announced.
Even after the mask rules were relaxed, homeschooling continued to rise. - The educators and school authorities of traditional schools believe covid disinformation and anxiety are among the reasons for rising in homeschooling
Pat Newman, the chairperson for
Tai Tokerau Principal Association
said that homeschooling can be beneficial when families do homeschooling well. He said there should be proper follow-up and checks and balances to ensure that parents are capable of homeschooling children satisfactorily. Auckland principal
Stephen Lethbridge
cited concern over the ministry granting permission for homeschooling to functionally illiterate parents. Functional illiteracy is when a person cannot use reading, writing, and calculation skills for their progress and the community’s development.
said that homeschooling can be beneficial when families do homeschooling well. He said there should be proper follow-up and checks and balances to ensure that parents are capable of homeschooling children satisfactorily. Auckland principal
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