The home study program implemented and regulated by the Department of Education in the Philippines and helps students who require parental support while pursuing their education. This was even more helpful during the pandemic when children needed to study from home. For learners who need supervision while studying, homeschooling is a better alternative option for many parents.
With the revised guidelines on the home study program, DepEd aims to strengthen it and make sure the program is a reliable alternative delivery mode for homeschooled learners under the K-12 curriculum.
The revised policy guidelines remain aligned with the mandate of DepEd to establish, support, and maintain a complete and integrated learning system based on their constitutional directive to promote the primary duty and rights of parents when it comes to the development of their kids’ moral character and civic efficiency.
What is the DepEd Home Study Program?
The DepEd Home Study or Homeschooling Program is one of the alternative delivery modes of DepEd that is offered by private or public schools to meet the educational needs of students who can’t attend school regularly due to difficult circumstances or family situations, medical conditions, or those learners with parents who prefer homeschooling to educate their children. Students need to get enrolled in accredited homeschool providers in the country to be eligible.
Moreover, the program gives families in the Philippines the flexibility in terms of addressing their kids’ access issues while providing them with the opportunity to contribute to creating a more inclusive, responsive, developmentally appropriate, learner-centered, and relevant curriculum. One of the objectives is to apply pedagogical approaches that are reflective, integrative, collaborative, inquiry-based, and constructivist.
Features and Benefits
The homeschooling program of DepEd provides substantial guidance on implementing the home study program while addressing underlying principles, target learners, and objectives. In addition, it determines the standards including the curriculum, program management, learning resources, parents as learning facilitators, learning delivery modalities, classroom assessment, and learning environment.
Private schools that will be offering the homeschool program should obtain a permit, while those public schools only need to obtain authorization from the region. School heads, on the other hand, will assign coordination to enroll learners, monitor progress, and provide support to guardians and parents. Homeschool learners will get modules and textbooks in digital or print format, enjoy a conducive learning environment, and have a home study plan for the learning tasks, learning competencies, and learning area.
Qualifications
- Residents of the Philippines only
- Private schools need DepEd’s Homeschooling Permit
- Public schools need Regional Office authorization
- Parents/guardians responsible for teaching
- School heads assign Homeschool Coordinator
- Learners participate in NCAE and NAT assessments
- Provide necessary resources and learning space at home.
Requirements for Enrollment
Learners in the home study program are required to take the National Achievement Test and National Career Assessment Examination in order to determine their academic strengths, weaknesses, levels, and knowledge acquired in the previous school year. They also need to take summative assessments that will be conducted by the schools where they’re currently enrolled.
Here are the requirements that you need to complete for the homeschooling program of DepEd:
- Homeschooling Program Letter of Intent
- Duly accomplished Homeschooling Program Form
- Must be residing in the Philippines
- Homeschooling Program Agreement
The schools that implement the home study program must ensure that guardians or parents are willing to take responsibility for the homeschooling needs of their children. They should also provide instructions to their kids or be capable of hiring a tutor to do it for them. More importantly, they must follow the requirements for the K-12 Basic Education Program implementation. Learning materials and supplementary materials should be given to learners at home.
How to Enroll in the DepEd Home Study Program
If you’re interested in enrolling your child in the DepEd Homeschooling Program, there are only a few requirements that you need to accomplish before enrolling. Make sure to follow the steps below for the enrollment process in your chosen school.
Step 1: Whether you’re planning to enroll at a private or public school, parents or guardians of learners must indicate their intention to avail of the program by submitting a Homeschooling Program Letter of Intent that is addressed to the head of the chosen school along with a duly accomplished Homeschooling Program Form.
Step 2: In terms of qualifications, learners living in the Philippines are the only ones allowed to enroll or avail of the home study program of DepEd.
Step 3: For qualified learners, they should craft a Homeschooling Program Agreement which is agreed upon by the parents, learner, and the school.
Step 4: Learners with disabilities who are recommended by the Guidance Counselor, psychometrician, developmental pediatrician, or family physician to enroll in a homeschool program may consider the nearest public or private school that offers a Special Education Program with authority or permit from the relevant agency or office.
Parents must be trained on K-12 Basic Education Program assessment as well as be familiar with accessing the DepEd Commons, DepEd LR Portal, and other digital platforms while also knowing how to use the learning materials provided on these platforms.
Rules & Guidelines: Homeschooling in Philippines
Please check out the following guidelines on homeschooling in the Philippines:
- Only those residing in the Philippines are allowed to enroll in the Homeschooling Program.
- A formal request must be submitted to the school’s Homeschool Coordinator.
- The Department of Education strictly follows the K-12 curriculum directly from DepEd Philippines.
- Homeschool learners should take the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) and the National Achievement Test (NAT) to assess their academic level.
- Parents or guardians are responsible for monitoring their children’s work and progress, and shall be the primary agents of the teacher-learning process.
- Private schools must obtain a Permit to Offer the Homeschooling Program while public schools should get authorization from the Regional Officer.
- In case of a state of emergency, the focus of instruction will be on the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs).
- Homeschool coordinators will be assigned in public schools to assist parents or guardians in enrolling their children and monitoring their progress.
- Homeschool learners should have access to textbooks, modules, and a conducive learning space at home.
- The homeschool program is not allowed for expatriates living outside of the Philippines
Important Reminders to Parents/Guardians of the Learners
- It is the responsibility of parents or guardians to monitor their children’s progress and ensure that they are actively engaged in their learning.
- The homeschool program should not be used as a substitute for regular schooling, but rather as an alternative option for learners who have specific needs or circumstances.
- Homeschool coordinators will provide support to parents or guardians during the implementation of the program.
- Parents / guardians must provide a suitable learning environment at home that is free from distractions and conducive to learning.
- The family must ensure access to resources, such as textbooks, learning modules, and, if available, digital learning tools.
- Regular communication with the assigned school representative and attendance at scheduled meetings are mandatory to monitor the student’s academic performance.
- Parents or guardians may be required to attend training sessions provided by DepEd to properly guide their children through the Homeschooling Program curriculum.
Video: Revised Policy Guidelines on Homeschooling Program | DepEd Order No. 001 s. 2022
In this video, you will learn about the revised policy guidelines of DepEd on its Homeschooling Program. It talks about the key points with clear explanations so parents and guardians of learners at home will understand how to make the learning experience even more effective for the kids. Watch until the end to get the latest updates on the changes that you should be aware of.
Summary
At this point, you should already understand all the guidelines, requirements, enrollment process, and other relevant information on the Homeschooling Program of DepEd for learners at home. Regardless of where you are enrolling your child, in private or public school, it’s important to be familiar with the policies, online platforms, learning materials, and other requirements for home study. Parents and guardians have a huge responsibility for the overall learning experience of their kids at home.
With the revised guidelines in the DepEd Home Study Program, homeschool coordinators, parents, and learners must keep up with the changes in the policies to ensure quality learning. Make sure to complete the requirements before deciding to enroll in the homeschooling program at your chosen school in the Philippines.