“How much do you use what you learn in school in life?” Vaishnavi Anant (17) from Hyderabad asks me. He takes my silence as a sign to move on. “I used to spend eight hours a day in school, but I didn’t feel like I learned that much. Likewise, with my tuition class.” On most days, the 12-year-old finally wondered what school would mean if her parents tutored her.
Revealing that the idea of homeschooling had been floating around in the family for years, Vaishnavi says it was only during the COVID-19-induced lockdown that they found the pluck to try it; Three months made for a good prelude to gauge its worth. And Vaishnavi considers herself lucky enough to oblige her parents, as many others didn’t give in to teenage urges.
“My mother was never in favor of the schooling system; He always believed in practical education. Even when I was studying in a traditional school, he encouraged me to learn new things on YouTube and try new activities etc,” she says.
Reorienting study patterns
In 2023-2024, the Ministry of Education found that more than 72,000 students are receiving home-based education, with Tamil Nadu leading the practice. In the coming years, will this mode of education become a trend? Perhaps, psychologists say. Backing this up with an explanation, child psychologist Smita Dutta points out how children’s time in school is not conducive. “Children don’t even get personal care in most schools, because there are so many students in each section. And teachers can’t be blamed for that.
Vaishnavi adds that the curriculum should not be blamed either. Despite innovative strategies detailed in the curriculum, teachers rarely have time to study them, she explains. “They were always in a rush to complete the curriculum, and so we didn’t really get to try out-of-the-box experiments.”
Adding to this, she says, school hours were long, leaving no time for any extracurricular activities. Monotony was added to by multiple tests and assessments. The end result – a suppressed creativity.
One might assume that ‘smart’ kids have it easy. Vaishnavi disagrees. “If I got less than a 19 or 20 on a test, my teachers would get frustrated and ask ‘What happened? Why this score?’
It’s been five years since homeschooling, and in recent times, Vaishnavi remembers it as one of the best decisions she’s ever made. “Work life comes with its pressures anyway. I didn’t want my school life to be stressful either.”
Explaining the benefits of this radical approach, psychologist Warkha Chulani says that the model allows control over the distribution of time across subjects. “So, parents can monitor if the child pays equal attention to Sanskrit as he does to mathematics. Conversely, if a parent sees that a child can excel in science and math, he may put more stress on it. By allowing sufficient focus on core competencies, it enables children to explore their other strengths.
Your questions on homeschooling answered
It is Monday morning when I speak to Vaishnavi. In traditional reality, an ironic time to catch a student in the first or second grade of the day. But this student is relaxed and composed, surrounded by his books, and blank sheets of paper. She is working on some novels, she says. Blank papers are the canvas for his future.
“I started writing at the age of 12. Since then I have written four books,” she says proudly. The mythological thrillers are part of ‘The JAZ Gang’ series, a layered tale of India’s past.
“Most Indian kids today love Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. We want to know about Greek, Nordic and Romanian cultures but not about our culture and heritage. Jazz Gang Series Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thrill, Comedy based on the magical backdrop of ancient India And a mix of friendships,” says Vaishnavi. Crediting the homeschooling period as a step that helped establish her literary talent, she hopes every student gets this opportunity.
When did you know it was time to homeschool?
“We sat for hours in front of the screen for lectures. After class, we would go back in front of the screen to do our homework. It was stressful.” Being an outdoorsy girl who loves sports, Vaishnavi was not used to much screen time.
Things came to a head after one particular math class when, after spending hours learning geometry concepts online, Vaishnavi still couldn’t make heads and tails of it.
That day she told her parents, “I can’t do this. I haven’t learned anything.”
Does homeschooling mean staying up late and doing what you love?
No, laughs Vaishnavi. She recalls her parents’ firm instructions – “You need to use your time properly, stick to a schedule and be disciplined.”
“I would get up early. Then exercise for an hour. A black belt in Taekwondo (a form of martial art) never missed his exercise regime. “Then I would study for another four hours, followed by YouTube sessions to discover new exercises. My parents made sure that everything I learned was in line with what was taught in school.”
During the day, the young writer sat down to work on her novels, play sessions in the evening and round-up on the daily news at night.
So what do you do with all the extra time?
“You use it to find out what you’re good at,” says Vaishnavi. For example, she says, “I was never an avid reader or writer.” However, his curiosity was piqued when his mother gave him some creative writing pieces one day. “From here my interest in writing grew. I used my time to watch relevant videos, develop story lines for my books, and research about past India, people’s lifestyles, food and housing.”
Does homeschooling make you an introvert?
Given that you are not expected to dress up and go to school, attend school events, have annual days or sports days to channel your energy, there is a tendency to retreat into a shell. But this is where, says Vaishnavi, your hobbies will play a role. “Writing has helped me a lot with many skills, from designing book covers to creating video trailers myself. It has helped me break out of my introverted nature and promote my books on different platforms. He recalls participating in prestigious literary events, including three appearances at the National Hyderabad Book Fair and an opportunity to speak at the ‘Youngistan Nook’ at the Hyderabad Literature Festival in 2024.
Countering the notion that homeschoolers don’t have friends, she says, “People often think that homeschooling means the end of socialization. But I tell them I’ve had more time to socialize since homeschooling. I have more friends now than in school.
What is the best part about being homeschooled?
It teaches a ‘life skill’, which many schools don’t, says Vaishnavi.
“As part of the curriculum curated by my parents, I used to wake up early, exercise, study. Verse (religious text) and wash my clothes even if there is a washing machine. If there is no house help, I also help my mother wash the dishes and sweep the floor.
For anyone wondering if homeschooling might be their cup of tea, Vaishnavi urges, “You never know until you try. When I was in school, I was outwardly motivated to get high grades because I wanted to maintain a good reputation with my peers and meet the expectations of my teachers.” want to accomplish. But as a homeschooler, I don’t want to show or prove anything to anyone.”
Summing up her journey with homeschooling, she says, “I learn because I love it. I learn because I want to.
Edited by Arunav Banerjee