How to start homeschooling in Singapore: a step-by-step guide

Under the Compulsory Education Act, Singapore Citizens born after 1 January 1996 and living in Singapore must attend a national primary school, unless they are exempted. Being approved to home-school is one of the grounds for exemption.

MOE considers each home-schooling application case by case. Its exemptions page lists conditions such as meeting the objectives of compulsory education, providing an academic learning plan for English Language, Mother Tongue Language, Mathematics and Science, providing a teaching plan for Character and Citizenship Education, and having the necessary qualifications.

MOE has said that whichever curriculum you use, parents need to be able to teach effectively and provide a holistic learning environment. It also reviews the criteria every year, so read the current exemptions page before you start.

Applications go to MOE's Compulsory Education Unit. Because the exemption must be in place before your child would otherwise start Primary 1, get in touch well before the year your child is due to start school, and ask the Unit for its current forms, timelines and what it expects to see.

MOE's figures suggest around 70 home-schooling applications a year, mostly at Primary 1, and that nearly all have been approved. That is encouraging, but approval is never automatic.

Ask MOE whether you should also take part in the Primary 1 Registration Exercise while your application is considered, so your child has a school place if plans change.

Home-schooled children who are exempted from compulsory education must sit the PSLE and meet a benchmark set by MOE. MOE describes this as making sure every child has a baseline foundation for further learning.

MOE has described the benchmark as pegged to the 33rd percentile of students in national primary schools who take four standard-level subjects that year. MOE has also reported that children who did not meet the benchmark had to re-attempt the PSLE the following year.

In practice, this means your plan needs to cover English, Mother Tongue, Mathematics and Science to standard level by the end of primary. MOE's primary syllabuses are free to read online and are the clearest guide to what the PSLE expects.

MOE has also said that home-schooled children take a Primary 4 assessment, and that parents receive information about its format in Primary 3. Treat it as a useful checkpoint rather than a hurdle.

Mother Tongue Language is one of the four PSLE subjects and one of the four areas MOE expects your learning plan to cover. For many families it is the subject that needs the most deliberate planning, especially if the language is not spoken much at home.

• Use it every day. Short, regular practice through conversation, reading aloud and songs tends to work better than occasional long sessions.
• Bring in other speakers. Grandparents, community classes, a tutor or a language-exchange friend all help.
• Use your library. The National Library Board has books and eResources in Chinese, Malay and Tamil, and basic membership is free for Singaporeans and PRs.

MOE has a separate process for exemption from Mother Tongue Language, for example for some children returning from overseas or with special educational needs. If you think this might apply to your child, ask MOE how it works alongside home-schooling.

MOE asks home-schooling parents for a plan on developing character, citizenship education and social-emotional skills, not just academics. Its exemptions information has also mentioned a National Education quiz taken before the PSLE.

This is a good prompt to plan the things that make home education rich: visits to museums and heritage sites, community service, sport, music and art, and time with other children.

There is no single right timetable. Many families do focused work on the four core subjects in the morning and keep afternoons for reading, projects and time outdoors. Keep sessions short for younger children and expect a few weeks of trial and error.

MOE has said parents submit an annual progress report on their child's learning and that MOE officers make home visits. Simple records make both much easier: a folder per subject, dated work samples, a reading list and short termly notes on progress.

Home-schooling families in Singapore are a small community, so it is worth seeking each other out. Parent networks, co-ops, enrichment classes, sports clubs, libraries and community centres all offer ways for your child to learn alongside others.

Home education is a long journey. Protect time for rest and your own interests, watch for signs of stress in your child and in yourself, and be willing to change course. If you are worried about your child's wellbeing, speak to a doctor or another health professional.