Homeschooling on the rise in Western Australia as mask mandates prompt family changes

The number of students undertaking home schooling in Western Australia increased by 22 per cent between 2019 to 2021, according to state government figures.

Numbers rose from 3,720 in 2019, to 4,562 in 2021, with not-for-profit Home Education WA [HEWA] believing the state's COVID-19 mask mandate for students in year three and above had prompted some parents to keep them at home.

"There are a contingent of people who are choosing to homeschool due to the mask mandate, particularly for younger children, because they don't feel it's beneficial for their children or their children aren't going to cope with that," HEWA committee member Saani Bennetts said.

Read More: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-23/home-schooling-education-western-australia/100928852