In education terms, "home schooling" refers to teaching given to a child who is not registered to attend a school. These children do not take part in public education programmes provided by municipalities.
Following a period of remote teaching and study while schools have been closed because of the coronavirus epidemic, many parents have misunderstood what home schooling is. As a result, public school officials and local authorities have begun an effort to correct any misconceptions.
For example, in the city of Kuopio, parents are being advised to give careful consideration before any decision to keep their children at home once classrooms reopen on 14 May.
If a child's legal guardian files notice that the child will be home schooled, he or she is removed from the public school registry. As a result, the child is no longer entitled to benefits such as school lunches, books or other teaching materials.
In Finland, a child can be transferred to home schooling by a guardian filing notice. In these cases, the guardian then becomes solely responsible for the child's education. In contrast, during periods of remote schooling, the pupil’s school is responsible for teaching, learning progress, materials, certification and even insurance coverage.
Approved absences
There has reportedly been some confusion on the part of parents about what constitutes an absence from classrooms.
School principles in Kuopio recently sent parents a circular explaining that there are three types of acceptable reasons for children to be kept away from school.
1) Illness. For an extended absence, guardians should get a formal leave of absence for the child from a physician.
2) Other reasons. These absences can be approved by a teacher or school principal. The most common "other reason" is an absence for family holiday travel. This can also be used as grounds to apply for an approved absence if there are concerns about a child's health. In this case, the pupil is required to study at home under the supervision of a guardian.
3) The child is a member of an at-risk group. According to the online circular issued in Kuopio, this requires a written statement by the pupil's primary physician verifying the child is at special risk.
Kuopio's education director, Leena Auvinen, boils the list down to simply "illness" and "other reasons".
"The current guidelines say that a child belonging to a serious at-risk group is a reason for absence. They also mention someone close to the pupil or a family member being in a serious at-risk group," Auvinen points out.
According to Auvinen, a medical certificate about the condition of such a family member is not required by schools.
"We have no right to information about the illness of family members. It is enough for the family to inform us that this is the reason [for an absence]," Leena Auvinen adds.
If a pupil remains at home because of being a member of an at-risk group, the child will study independently, but can receive some remote teaching by agreement with teachers.
Following inquires from Yle, the City of Kuopio announced that a more detailed circular on the issue of absences will be provided to parents this Friday.