Home schooling club gives parents major role in education

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Education starts at home, but not all parents can be good teachers.

The Morning Star Academy (MSA) in Setiabudi, South Jakarta, blends institutional education and homeschooling in an attempt to provide parents and children alike a valuable learning experience.

With the goal of becoming effective teachers for their own children, a group of 20 parents established the homeschooling club in 1994 to meet the needs of their children's education.

Over the years, the homeschooling club attracted more parents and eventually classes for grades one to six were opened in September 2002.

"People are hungry for education alternatives. Homeschooling offers such an alternative for parents as the program requires their involvement and commitment," said MSA principal M. Harwanti Siregar Wowor.

She said the homeschooling program had 400 students at present, including 100 in kindergarten, 200 in elementary school and the rest in junior high school and high school.

Harwanti said parents were required to teach their children at home but also were encouraged to join their children for classes held three times a week from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the building in Setiabudi.

"In this way, parents will get a picture of how to teach their children at home," she said.

She said the children would not be confused because there were similarities in the way the parents taught them at home and how they were taught by the teachers at the school.

The homeschooling program also offers special programs for children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and hyperactivity.

"Each child is different and children with special needs will not be happy in a formal school setting.

"I got this idea (institutional education and homeschooling) when I visited Oregon in the U.S several years ago," Harwanti said.

Dona, a mother of two, said there were several advantages to homeschooling her children. She said that not only did her children learn a lot, especially with their lessons at school, but she was also learning a lot and refreshing her knowledge.

"I also understand that my children may have fewer friends since they have a limited number of schoolmates due to the homeschooling. Therefore, I encourage my children to be more proactive when they meet new people," said Dona.

Harwanti said the homeschooling program covered various subjects, including English, history, science, mathematics, Mandarin, sports, music and art.

"We also encourage students to take exams provided by the government if they plan to study at local schools or universities," said Harwanti, adding that MSA also offered classes in Bahasa Indonesia, civics and other subjects covered by the national exams.

MSA students also take the Stanford Achievement Test yearly, and if they continue through to the high school level they can earn a diploma accredited by the Franklin Classical School.

"Children are the future of this nation, that is why we have to do everything possible to give them the best possible education," Harwanti said. (004)