Learn From Home

Home schooling a child is a challenge, but a growing number of parents are taking it on for the rewards it offers.

- Vivan Sorab

On a visit to Rishikesh in 2015, Ashok Subramanian found himself in an unfamiliar situation. Clad from head to toe in rafting gear, he eased himself into the waters of the Ganga and challenged a childhood belief that harm might befall him should he venture near water. Moments later, his daughter Vipasha joined him, clinging tightly to the rope that ran around their dinghy.Ashok’s decision to brave the river’s turabulence stemmed not from a sudden surge of courage, but from the persistence of his daughter, who wanted to experience rafting no matter what. In granting Vipasha’s request, Ashok discovered something about himself: he had lost the energy and excitement of his youth, something that now coursed through his daughter’s veins. For Ashok, home schooling his daughter was as much a learning experience for him as it was for her.

Ashok and his wife Pria are among a growing number of Indian parents who are choosing home schooling for their kids over more traditional schools, with their classroom based educational models. While the reasons for this choice vary significantly between families, many are grounded in the need to be more sensitive towards the child.

“For me, home schooling means being responsive to the child’s needs. The term ‘home schooling’, is not a reflection of the process. We sometimes take the child to institutions nearby, such as playschools, museums, parks, or anywhere else that we can find a meaningful or joyful experience.”, says Ashok.