Recent data from authorities show a significant surge in homeschooling in Scotland, with over 2,200 children currently being schooled at home, up 40% in two years and more than tripling in seven years. This increase is due to lower educational standards and more classroom violence. Scotland’s decrease in international league tables for Reading, Maths and Science among 15-year-olds, along with stories of growing violence in schools, has resulted in a loss of trust in state education.
Factors driving the rise in homeschooling in Scotland
Liam Kerr, the Scottish Conservatives’ education spokesman, criticises the SNP’s approach to education, tying the growth in homeschooling to rising violence, dropping standards, and gloomy teaching job prospects. According to a study conducted by the NASUWT teaching union, four out of every ten teachers have experienced violence or physical abuse from students in the previous year, with virtually all respondents reporting worsening conditions. In Aberdeen, instructors have described some schools as “completely lawless”, with violent behaviour becoming commonplace.
Response from educational authorities
Authorities, including Kerr, have urged the SNP to investigate the factors behind this surge in order to address the root causes and reform the public education system. The surge in homeschooling in Scotland indicates parental worry about the quality of education and safety in schools. Professor Lindsay Paterson of the University of Edinburgh emphasises that, while homeschooling can aid emotionally sensitive children, it lacks the impact of qualified teachers and peer contact. He urges policymakers to take this pattern carefully as a warning signal.
The importance of safe and proper education
Providing a quality and safe education to students, as well as ensuring instructors’ safety at work, is critical for education’s progress and future possibilities. Schools must create a safe environment free of abuse and violence so that both instructors and students can promote learning and growth. The surge in homeschooling in Scotland emphasises the necessity for schools to address these challenges immediately. Failure to do so may weaken public trust in the educational system and deprive children of the benefits of classroom learning, such as social interaction and access to a variety of educational tools.
Addressing the education crisis with online learning
In response to the growing worries about falling educational standards and rising school violence, Nisai Group offers an effective solution in the form of Nisai Virtual Academy, an alternative educational model that we have been offering parents and students for over 28 years.
Our online learning platform gives students access to a structured and accredited curriculum by offering UK-qualified curricula from foundation levels to GCSE/IGCSE and A Levels. For parents who are considering homeschooling because of safety concerns, the virtual platform offers the solution to the demand for a controlled and safe learning environment for both teachers and children. Both teachers and students can participate in their studies without fear of physical abuse or violence by providing instruction through a supervised virtual platform, guaranteeing their well-being is prioritised.
Furthermore, Nisai Virtual Academy’s flexibility lets students learn at their own pace and meets a variety of learning requirements and styles. In order to guarantee that students obtain a high-quality education on par with those of traditional institutions, this model also upholds strict educational requirements.
Nisai Virtual Academy essentially provides a stable and encouraging environment where pupils can grow intellectually, making it a useful and efficient substitute for families looking to strike a compromise between educational quality and safety.