Homeschooling In The UAE: Choose The Best Curriculum For Your Child
Homeschooling in the UAE can seem like an overwhelming endeavor at first glance. However, after conducting a lot of research and talking to other expat parents about their homeschooling experiences, I’ve created this list of everything you need to know about homeschooling in the UAE! If you have questions that aren’t answered here, please ask them in the comments and I will respond as soon as I can! Happy homeschooling!
The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling in the UAE
Homeschooling is more common than you think, and it’s a great way for kids to learn at their own pace. However, it can be difficult because there are limited resources available. There are several pros and cons of homeschooling in the United Arab Emirates.
The biggest con would be that there are limited resources available. And while many people feel this is an argument against homeschooling, some argue that it actually makes teaching a child or being taught by themself more engaging as they won’t get bored by the material they have already seen before.
One pro of homeschooling in the UAE is that students have time to explore other interests like sports, art, or music without having to worry about missing class.
A second pro is that parents will know what their children are learning and will be able to tailor the curriculum accordingly. A third pro is that since they aren’t spending time on the commute to school, homeschooled children will have more opportunities to spend time with family.
The final pro of homeschooling in UAE is that there isn’t any standardized testing which means your child will not need to deal with pressure from grades.
The Different Types of Homeschooling Curriculums Available
There are a variety of different curriculums that offer homeschooling in the UAE, but they all have their own pros and cons. Some curriculums might be more appropriate for your family, or might be better for a particular grade level. A list of Pros and Cons for each curriculum:
-SEEM- Learn from home with support from an instructor who teaches by Skype;
-AAEEA- Learns through formal correspondence;
-Waldorf Academy- All about nature and focuses on creativity;
-Plymouth College – Like attending a British school with scheduled classes Monday through Friday, but you can choose from many international schools depending on what you’re looking for. The college offers both a day program and a boarding program (live at the school) where you’ll learn in small classes with other children. It is considered one of the best schools in Dubai;
-Nova High School – Housed inside Nova International School, this is also another private high school that provides a good education. One downside is its lack of diversity due to only having students that speak English as their first language (though it does offer Arabic lessons);
-American Schools – More expensive than most other options because it is not subsidized by the government like most other schools. They do provide excellent resources and education though!
How to Choose the Right Homeschooling Curriculum for Your Child
Choosing a homeschooling curriculum can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. The first step is understanding what you and your child are looking for in a curriculum, such as:
-What type of academic learning do you want? Do you want more hands-on learning or more traditional teaching?
-Do you want something secular or religious based?
-What language should it be taught in? -How much money should you set aside for textbooks and other materials?
-Are there any requirements from the government that need to be taken into account before enrolling your child into homeschooling? -Does your local school board or ministry support home education?
The next step is researching curriculums and making a list of those that seem like they might work best for you and your family. If possible, try out these curriculums by signing up for free trials online or checking them out at the library. After narrowing down the list, make an appointment with someone who teaches this style of curriculum so they can provide further advice on which one would be best suited to meet the needs of your family.
Also Read: Early Childhood Education?
Tips for Making Homeschooling Work for Your Family
Homeschooling might seem like a huge change for your family, but it’s not impossible. Here are some tips for making homeschooling work for your family:
-Figure out a schedule that works best for you and your kids.
-Get used to using the library as a resource for learning things you can’t teach at home (e.g., science labs).
-Find other homeschoolers and join online groups that focus on homeschooling. -Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to teaching your kids, so do what is right for them and what works best for you.
-Be prepared to find new solutions when your first plans don’t go as expected. There are many ways of homeschooling in the UAE. The most common form is called partnership where parents follow a curriculum and then meet with their child’s teacher once or twice per year.
Another option is unstructured homeschooling which gives the parent complete control over their child’s education while following national guidelines such as mandatory schooling hours, national exams, etc. The most important part of any type of homeschooling in the UAE though is parental involvement and communication with teachers.
