Home Schools Rise in China

Home schools emerged in many places of China today due to the parents' concern about the public education, the China Youth Daily reported Monday.

A growing number of parents in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces are choosing to let their children receive an education at home rather than attend public kindergartens, primary, junior or senior middle schools.

Some parents think their children cannot realize the happiness of learning, acquire useful knowledge effectively and master learning for a modern society through the current methods taught in schools.
A recent seminar about launching home school projects was held by 21st Century Education Research Institute in Southwest China's Yunnan province, attracting a lot of advocates.

Wu Gang, who used to operate an IT company in Sichuan province, chose to stop his company to take his son to Dali, Yunnan province, to be taught at home, after his child was not willing to go to school. Wu's son, now 15, is self studying natural and social science and holds an insightful view on some problems, which Wu believes is due to home lessons being an effective and relaxed way of learning. He also believes teaching at home will give his son more free time to practice study and make friends, as well as to expand his views.

Ririxin School, one of a number of home school style private schools in Huilongguan and Tiantongyuan communities in north Beijing, which was set up in 2006 by four families who wanted to give their children a better education, now has about 150 students. Although it has developed into a formal school, it features parent self-help teaching and parents' participate into school affairs.
Experts say the trend of home schools is due to a diversified demand for education and people should recognize the value of home teaching and attach great importance to the parent's participation in a child's education.