Some parents, concerned about the provincial government’s back-to-school plan during the COVID pandemic, are starting to think about home-schooling their kids. Kevin Gabel, Executive Director of Programs in the Ministry of Education says its a pretty simple process, beginning with contacting your local school division. From there, you work out an education plan, delivering three broad annual goals in the subject areas of math, science, social studies, and English language arts. A co-ordinator with the division helps the parents bring that to fruition. Parents also have to explain how they will assess the student’s progress and that assessment must be shared with the school division at the end of the year.

Gabel says the agreed-upon plan does not have to follow the provincial curriculum. He says parents have the constitutional right to direct the education of their children.

You might think this could cause problems down the road but Gabel says they have seen home-schooled kids make their way into university. He says the two universities in Saskatchewan simply require a portfolio showing their work and then the students are worked with to get them ready for the post-secondary world.

Home-schooling does not mean that parents are left entirely on their own. There is a Saskatchewan Home-Based Educators Association. They represent about 25 per cent of the home-based educators in the province. The organization can help parents with questions they may have and directing them to resources they might need.