Homeschooling is a popular educational choice for many families around the world, but there are still some countries where it is illegal. In this article, we will explore the countries that have banned homeschooling and the reasons behind their decisions. Sierra Leone is one of the countries that has completely outlawed homeschooling. In Asia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, North Korea, South Korea, and Turkey have all made homeschooling illegal.
In Europe, Sweden, Germany, and Cyprus are among the countries that have prohibited homeschooling. In contrast, homeschooling is legal in many countries such as Australia and the United States. In fact, the homeschooling movement is much larger in the US than in the United Kingdom. Australia also has a unique approach to homeschooling due to its vast geographical distances between communities.
Many children attend “The School of the Air” which educates children who live in 1.5 million square kilometers of the Outback through a two-way radio. Although homeschooling is becoming more accepted in some countries, it is still illegal in many European countries. Some countries allow homeschooling without regulations or restrictions while others have a total ban on it. South Africa is one of the most regulated countries for homeschoolers.
The US and New Zealand have very liberal freedoms when it comes to homeschooling, while other countries have few or no education standards. International laws are not clear when it comes to legalizing homeschooling and as a result, countries have the right to impose compulsory public education. Normally, in these countries where it is prohibited with these exceptions, students still need to follow the curriculum and sit for exams but they can do so at home instead of at school. Different countries prohibit homeschooling because of their philosophical approach to rights, education and children in general. Some of these countries allow homeschooling but only for children with serious illnesses or disabilities. This type of argument is ridiculous even by its own methods because there are several other countries where homeschooling is legal. While it is neither practical nor reasonable to prohibit homeschooling, approximately thirty to forty countries prohibit homeschooling or make it nearly impossible.
Some countries have highly regulated homeschooling programs as an extension of the compulsory education system. In all four UK countries, parents have the right to homeschool their children instead of sending them to school. However, in many other European countries, homeschooling is still illegal although they are slowly legalizing it. Homeschooling can be a great educational choice for many families around the world but there are still some countries where it is illegal or highly regulated.
It is important to be aware of these laws before making any decisions about your child's education.
