39604 (2024). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education

39604 (2024). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education: In response to Reply 38906 and 38912, is the Minister satisfied with the level of supervision currently in place to ensure the wellbeing and education of home-educated students?

Hon Erica Stanford: I am advised by the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) that Section 38 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (the Act) determines the level of supervision for home educated children. For a long-term exemption to be issued, the Ministry must be satisfied that a child aged between 6 and 16 years of age will be taught at least as regularly and as well as in a registered school. Where the exemption is issued, it is the parent or caregiver who is responsible for providing, supervising, and monitoring their child’s home education programme. Where an exemption has been issued and concerns are raised that a child is not being taught at least as regularly and as well as in a registered school, the Ministry is able to undertake an education review. Under the Act there are two possible outcomes of a review: a) The child is being taught at least as regularly and well as in a registered school and the exemption continues; or b) The child is not being taught at least as regularly and well as in a registered school and the exemption will be revoked.