Each month I get between one and three emails asking me questions about living and homeschooling in China. Mostly these messages are from moms whose husbands are moving to China to work. They ask me about homeschooling — is it legal in China and how do you get homeschool materials? Another frequent issue is learning language — how did you and your daughter learn Chinese?
Welcome to my Expat Homeschool Mom in China Series. I don’t mind answering people’s questions by email, but I thought this would be a good way for seekers to get some preliminary answers right away.
Click on the button to see all the posts in this series.
This first post will address the question, “Is it legal to homeschool in China?”
Short answer: Yes, it is legal for you to homeschool your children in China.
Wasn’t that easy? Aren’t you relieved?
Any laws about compulsory school will apply only to Chinese children and not to you. No one (official) will ever ask about how you educate your child.
The compulsory school law states that citizens must attend school for at least nine years. This law went into effect in 1986, by the way, so it’s a relatively new law. It is still not fully implemented in all rural areas, but progress is consistently being made.
Of course, people will find it totally inconceivable that you homeschool. You will have to explain it multiple times, using various phrases to describe what homeschooling is. There isn’t really a common term for homeschooling in Chinese. And even after you do describe it, be prepared for a complete lack of comprehension.
It’s just unheard of, and so it’s hard for people to understand. It’s as if someone told you that she knits baskets with cooked spaghetti for cancer research. That’s what homeschooling sounds like to the average person. It’s just incomprehensible. So be patient and use the chance to educate them.
You may wonder if Chinese people can homeschool. I’m not absolutely sure, but I’m guessing no. There are probably not any provisions in the law for alternatives to public schools. But since the concept is so alien, there is no one who would attempt or even consider homeschooling.
Chinese citizens see school as a great privilege, and not providing an education for your child would be one of the highest forms of neglect. So when you share with your friends that you homeschool, just be sure to emphasize that you use a quality, English-speaking curriculum and that you are preparing them for college in your home country.
I am excited about reading more from your series, Jimmie!
School is a great privilege. Even I take that for granted sometimes. My Korean mom speaks often about her education as a child and it was a pretty big deal that she went to middle school and high school.
.-= Marsha´s last blog ..Review: Robot Wars =-.
@Marsha — Absolutely! My own maternal grandmother only had a 5th grade education. I am the first in my family to complete college. We are not that far off from days when education was a rare privilege. And even though it’s no longer rare, in our culture, we should still treat it as a privilege.
Now how to get our kids to see this truth?
The word picture created in my mind by knitting baskets with spaghetti is perfect. It describes the face that I’ve seen so many times when people have never heard of homeschooling.
You’ve also inspired me to create a series of my own for Qatar.
Thanks,
Darla
.-= Darla´s last blog ..Random Thoughts =-.
Coming out of lurk-dom to tell you how excited I am that you are doing this series!!! We are planning our move to China in about a year and I constantly think about all the different challenges this will pose to homeschooling the kids. Thanks for sharing!
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Giveaway Winner!! =-.
What a fabulous series to share with us. Though I’m not planning a move to China, I still enjoy reading about your experiences in homeschooling there. I can’t wait to read as you continue with the series.
.-= Angie @ Many Little Blessings´s last blog ..7 Quick Takes: December 11, 2009 (Volume 24) =-.
This was a very timely post for me. My daughter goes to Chinese School on Saturdays and her Mandarin teacher is absolutely fascinated by the concept of homeschooling. She has only been in the states for 3 years and she has asked me many many questions about homeschooling. Your analogy of basket weaving perfectly described her reaction to learning that we homeschool.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Summer Time Learning =-.
Thanks for this series, Jimmie. I am one of those readers who have been meaning to email you. We also live in China – in a town that sells no butter. And we happened to paint our own wrapping paper last week as well… for the same reasons you mention. 🙂
Yet another lurker living in China who’s finally going to post 🙂
I’m pretty sure homeschooling is legal in China, because my province newspaper a few months ago reported on a homeschooled Chinese boy, but probably very rare: I showed my friends the article and asked if it was legal, and they all said “Yes, but almost no one does it.” This particular boy had some serious disabilities, though, so it made sense to everyone that HE was homeschooled… it may be a different matter when I have kids old enough to put in school, when I don’t!!
.-= Lori Ann´s last blog ..Innocent Culprit =-.
reaction is the same living in Hong Kong. We live on a small outlying island so everyone somewhat accepts what we do because we do not speak Cantonese, but still with complete confusion on their faces. Their second question is always ‘so after you learn language, then they got to school?!!!!’. When I reply no, they really just have nothing to respond.
.-= Cristal´s last blog ..all those things I should be doing =-.
Thanks for the information. I live in Beijing and always considered Homeschooling but did not know it was an option…
After living in China for a while, I can totally imagine trying to explain the concept of “Homeschooling” to a Chinese person and getting a blank face of confusion.
I am sure that you could save a lot of money homeschooling your children while living in Shanghai. The cost of tuition at the school where my wife is a teacher is over $20,000 US a year. If the company isn’t paying your kids tuition, 2 kids would take over half your paycheck!!
Hi Jimmy,
I’m actually a native Chinese who is homeschooled. I don’t go to school since I finished my elementary school and now I’m 17. I know it’s very rare for Chinese to homeschool, and many people don’t even know what homeschool is, but it’s possible that some might do it. However, in my case, there are limited resources, mostly because I take classes in English while none of my parents is native English speaker nor are they similar with English cirriculum. So I’m searching for courses in English for homeschoolers that is available in China.
Jimmie~ we may be traveling to China and be there for some time so I knew you were the “go to” person for these questions~ I was hoping to continue our homeschooling in China while there – can you direct me to any links with updated laws in case things have changed with what I may need to do as a US Citizen on my part? I wanted to check into these things before hand so I know what I am doing~ any help on this would be greatly appreciated 🙂
Tracey,
The only thing you need to worry about it any US laws for your state when you return. China absolutely won’t care what you do as far as teaching your own children. And American schools probably won’t either. So look at it as a time to homeschool without any supervision at all!
Hi,
I have been an international school teacher in Beijing for the last 10 yrs. Come July I’m going to stop teaching in the school system and start doing private tutoring. A parent at my school asked if I would be willing to homeschool her daughter. I had never thought about homeschooling other people’s children before. I am single and have no kids of my own but have been teaching in schools for over 16 yrs and I know the time that is wasted in a school day. I’m sure you could cover what you need to cover only teaching half days to a small group. The parent has the US embassy pay school fees and would need a fapiao.
I’m quite interested in trying homeschooling with a small group of kids. Any suggestions of how to start? or if anyone wants their child home schooled by someone else? I am a qualified elementary teacher from Australia.
Hi Mel
I was very interested to read your comment as we are a family of six Irish people possibly heading to Schenzhen in the Autumn. Our four children are aged 13, 12, 10 and 8 but the cost of educating them in international schools is prohibitive. I would be very interested in the services of an English speaking tutor who would home school the children. You mention that you are an elementary teacher – what ages does that cover? I suspect it is for children up to 11/12. Do you know anyone who provides a similar service for older children? Do you follow the English educational curriculum? What exams would the children take? Would love to know more.
Regards
Geraldine
hi,I am living here in shanghai,i consider homeschooling now, i have 2 boys age,6 years old and 2 years old, I cound’t find a school who have a low tutition fee for my boys, we couldn’t afford to send them to international school.can u help where to homeschool my kids
Thanks for this. I’ve been in China for 12 years. I’ve always gotten along very well. My wife is Chinese and both of our daughters were born here. My oldest daughter will be six in May and will need to start 1st grade in the fall. The cost is just too expensive! I already work to jobs and my wife works as well, but there is little chance that we could afford tuition at an international school for her and absolutely NO chance that we will be able afford tuition for both her and her little sister in two years’ time.
Homeschooling seems like it maybe a good option. What are some of the options available, as for as models and curriculum? I know nothing about homeschooling. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.
Hi Robbie, are you still in SH and did you decide to homeschool? We are currently homeschooling our 6 year old daughter (1st grade) and are looking for other homeschoolers or to join a homeschooling group to meet up for joint classes, learning through activities, field trips, etc a few times a week or more.
Let me know if you are interested to meet up and discuss further?
Cheers,
Claus