Homeschooling in the Philippines is now a popular choice for Filipino families. Since the global pandemic erupted, many parents find homeschooling a quality alternative path for their children’s education.
This blog post explores the legal basis for homeschooling in the Philippines, the challenges families face, the limitations of traditional schooling, and how IoT technology is shaping the future of education.
The Legal Basis for Homeschooling in the Philippines
In the Philippines, homeschooling is legal and supported by the Department of Education (DepEd). This legal foundation is enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which emphasizes the right of parents to educate their own children.
Article II, Section 12 states that parents have the “natural and primary right” to raise their children, which includes educating these young humans to become responsible with good moral character.
Additionally, Article XIV, Section 2 promotes quality education for all citizens and encourages alternative learning methods, such as “non-formal, informal, and indigenous learning systems.” This legal provision covers homeschooling.
It’s a blessing for Filipinos that DepEd has established guidelines to help families who choose to homeschool. For example, families can enroll in a Home Study Program offered by public or private schools. This learning program allows Filipino parents to take responsibility of teaching their kids based on a structured curriculum (Bridgeway Academy, 2021).
The Homeschool Association of the Philippine Islands (HAPI), for example, plays a significant role in supporting homeschooling families. This association provides a wide range of homeschooling resources. It is also one of the main advocates of homeschooling across the Philippines (Bridgeway Academy, 2021).
Challenges of Homeschooling in the Philippines
We believe homeschooling is one the best learning alternatives for families in the Philippines. While this approach offers many benefits, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Here are some challenges you need to consider and our recommendations.
1. Resource Limitations for FIlipino homeschoolers
Homeschooling parents often struggle to find enough educational materials and resources needed for their homeschooling needs. Unlike traditional schools that provide textbooks and facilities, homeschooling parents are responsible for gathering the learning materials they need for their children.
If you have these challenges, we recommend enrolling your child in a DepEd accredited homeschool provider. These organizations should guide you in getting the learning materials your child needs. There are independent providers of learning materials who can also help you. The Storyfelters, for example, works on affordable and printable Unit Studies and Workbooks for homeschoolers in the Philippines.
2. Socialization Issues for homeschooling in the Philippines
A common concern among parents is that homeschooled children may miss out on social interactions with peers. This can be true for families who do not have any social group, other than their relatives. We recommend parents to actively seek out community activities or groups where their kids can meet other children, like a local church community or a homeschooling cooperative.
3. Regulatory Requirements for homeschooling in the Philippines
Although DepEd provides guidelines, navigating these legal requirements can be complex for homeschooling parents, especially those who plan to enroll their child later on in a regular school once they reach high school or college. This concern can be addressed by enrolling you child with an accredited homeschooling provider (Bridgeway Academy, 2021).
4. Commitment from parents
Whether we like it or not, the success of any venture hinges a lot on consistency. Homeschooling requires a significant time investment from parents, especially those who must balance teaching with other responsibilities at work or at home. For homeschooling families where both husband and wife are working, we recommend sharing the teaching load.
This also assumes that both husband and wife are mutually committed to do homeschooling and to succeed in this venture. Otherwise, the overburdened parent may be driven to quit homeschooling and enroll their kids in a regular school.
Limits of Traditional Schooling
Despite the aforementioned challenges, homeschooling could be the best educational path moving forward. This is due to crucial limitations of traditional schooling in the Philippines.
1. Bookish Learning Approach
Many traditional schools in the Philippines have a bookish approach to education. Their programs are inflexible and are could not cater to individual learning styles or paces. In many cases, teachers tend to convey information all for the sake of fulfilling the lesson for the day even though the students end up unable to understand how the information works in real-world applications. A scene from the award-winning movie, 3 Idiots demonstrates who booking education is not learning.
A standard curriculum is important for knowledge. But learning cannot be bookish. Teachers need to bring the student from the theoretical to the practical applications of the information. Standardized learning only leaves many students feeling disengaged or overwhelmed with education.
2. Underfunded education system
Traditional education in the Philippines is underfunded. Many traditional schools have overcrowded classrooms. Many teachers are also underpaid. A teacher in an entry level position, for instance, would earn an average of between Php25,000 to Php30,000 – an amount too small for them to cover the rising costs of living in the Philippines.
We don’t have concrete data to explain why our government remains unwilling to genuinely improve the welfare of teachers and students. But the results are obvious. Consequently, many teachers are unable to give each student the personalized attention needed for learning.
The Future of Homeschooling in the Philippines in the Age of IoT
Because of technology, it is possible that the era of traditional education is about to end. The Fourth Industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) introduced us to the realm of automation, cloud technology, digitalization, and the Internet of Things (IoT). We are now in the Fifth industrial revolution (Industry 5.0) where human creativity and machines work together for sustainability and improvement of society.
Because of these advancements, several factors make the future of homeschooling bright:
1. Interactive Learning Tools
IoT devices enhance the learning experiences of students. Today, homeschoolers can take advantage of interactive apps and online platforms that provide quality learning solutions. These modern tools help students learn in more reliable and exciting ways (DivinaLaw, 2021).
2. Data Insights
IoT can provide homeschoolers with valuable data about their performance and engagement levels. Homeschooling parents can use this information to adjust their teaching methods and support their children’s learning needs better (DivinaLaw, 2021).
3. Global Connections
As high-speed internet access becomes more common in the Philippines, homeschooling families can connect with educators and peers around the world. This opens up opportunities for collaborative projects among fellow homeschoolers (Bridgeway Academy, 2021).
4. Support networks
Online communities are growing rapidly and provide support for homeschooling families. Many homeschool networks offer shared experiences and resources that can help parents around the world navigate their homeschooling journey (Remote Staff, 2021).
Conclusion
Homeschooling is becoming an increasingly popular educational option in the Philippines. It is legally recognized and supported by government policies that encourage flexible learning methods. While there are challenges such as resource limitations and socialization concerns, many families find that homeschooling offers a more personalized education than traditional schooling.
As technology continues to evolve, especially with IoT advancements, the future of homeschooling looks promising—providing even more opportunities for children to learn effectively at home.
References
Bridgeway Academy. (2021). Homeschooling in the Philippines. Retrieved from https://homeschoolacademy.com/blog/homeschooling-in-the-philippines/
DivinaLaw. (2021). Homeschooling in the Philippines. Retrieved from https://www.divinalaw.com/dose-of-law/homeschooling-in-the-philippines/
Remote Staff. (2021). *Homeschooling in the Philippines: Pros and Cons of Having Your Kids Study-From-Home*. Retrieved from https://www.remotestaff.ph/blog/homeschooling-in-the-philippines-pros-and-cons-of-having-your-kids-study-from-home/