Prospects for the development of homeschooling in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

Recently, the number of parents who decide to withdraw their children from school in order to provide them with education at home has increased, as they are dissatisfied with both the pandemic situation and the school situation, the teaching process, collegial relations, overloaded school curriculum and a lot of other issues that worry parents. In order to increase their perception of social prestige, many parents choose to send their children to private kindergartens and schools to ensure their harmonious development. Homeschooling is the education that takes place at home, in other words "family education", which has as a priority the interests and desires of the child. It is carried out on the basis of an individual program in accordance with the curriculum of the Ministry of Education and Research with the individual abilities and skills of the child, where the direct role belongs to the parent, who is a mentor, guide or coach. Homeschooling, in fact, means that the parents take over the role of the teacher, the child is not sent to kindergarten or school, but studies at home. In the Republic of Moldova, homeschooling is not legal, but is carried out through umbrella institutions abroad, where the child can be included in a legal education system. This article aims to reveal the following aspects of homeschooling: how family-educated children socialize; what is the legal status of homeschooling in the Republic of Moldova; what are the benefits of alternative family education; how independent children are educated and instructed. The advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling will be identified and solutions to its problems will be offered.