Parenting Guide

Exploring the Homeschooling Path: What Parents Need to Know Before Taking the Leap

Most parents want the best for their children, striving to provide them with the highest quality education. For many, this means sending their children to traditional schools. However, for some families, traditional schooling doesn't always meet their child's needs or aspirations.

In the case of Asim Qureshi, the CEO of Jibble.io and an Oxford graduate, the journey to provide a more tailored education for his children led him to explore the idea of homeschooling.

In 2013, Asim and his wife made the bold decision to transition their children to a home-based, self-directed learning environment, allowing them to explore subjects at their own pace and according to their interests. The results were remarkable: early academic achievements, acceptance into prestigious universities, and a sense of independence and curiosity that many traditional education systems fail to nurture.

Inspired by Asim’s story and motivated by his vision of learning, we reached out to other parents across Malaysia who are exploring flexible, alternative ways of educating their children. Each family’s journey offers unique insights into the challenges and rewards of homeschooling, as well as the personal growth it fosters for both children and parents.

Disclaimer:
The experiences shared in this article reflect individual family journeys and are intended for informational purposes only. The names of some interviewees have been changed to respect their privacy and confidentiality. Homeschooling in Malaysia is subject to approval by the Ministry of Education under the Education (Amendment) Act 2025. Parents interested in alternative learning options are advised to consult official guidelines or seek formal advice before making any decisions regarding their child’s education.

A Family Who Took A Different Path

For Asim Qureshi, the journey into homeschooling started with a simple observation: his children weren’t being adequately challenged in school. He remembers, “I started to teach my kids maths on the 10-minute drive to school. No structure, no whiteboard, no textbooks, but they learned far more during that 10-minute drive than the school was teaching them throughout the day.”

This realisation triggered a deeper rethinking of what education could look like for his family. Faced with long, packed school schedules, a growing reliance on tuition, and the pressures of a rigid academic system, Asim and his wife decided to provide a more flexible and tailored educational experience for their children. This led them to design a structured yet self-paced learning environment, based on the interests and natural curiosity of their children.

Over the years, this approach yielded impressive results: their children achieved notable academic milestones, including multiple A*s in IGCSE, early success in A-Levels, and acceptance into top universities like Oxford and Cambridge.

How They Approached Learning at Home

In the early stages of homeschooling, Asim and his wife took the lead in designing a learning schedule for their children. Mornings were dedicated to structured study, focusing on languages and mathematics, while afternoons were reserved for reading, sports, and creative pursuits. Weekends were intentionally kept free for family time, which allowed the children to explore extracurricular activities without the pressure of exams.

As their children grew older, the focus shifted towards self-directed learning, where the children took greater ownership of their education. By ages 9 or 10, they were encouraged to seek out resources independently, whether through YouTube tutorials or online resources, and solve problems on their own. This approach nurtured independence and curiosity, helping them become active learners instead of passive recipients of knowledge.

By their mid-teens, all three children had achieved remarkable academic success. Here are their individual milestones:

• Maryam (20) – Fluent in five languages, achieved 5 A*s in IGCSE at age 12, AAB in A-Levels at age 13, and later received an offer to study at Oxford University.
• Danyal (18) – Developed an early passion for coding, completed 3 A*s in IGCSE by age 10, and earned an A in A-Level Physics at age 11; he now works as a coder at Jibble.
• Sabeen (16) – Achieved 3 As in IGCSE at age 10, 5 A*s at A-Level, and received an unconditional offer from Cambridge University at age 15.

These milestones were a testament to the personalised, flexible nature of their homeschooling experience.

Common Fears About Homeschooling

Despite the success, many parents worry about the social impact of homeschooling. The common assumption is that homeschooled children will become socially isolated. However, Asim’s children remained socially active, joining sports teams and maintaining close friendships. He explains, “People assume homeschoolers are withdrawn, but that’s often because they were bullied before leaving school. My kids hadn’t experienced that, so they had an inner confidence that shows.”

Beyond academics, Asim believes homeschooling instilled important life skills in his children, making them not only self-assured but also more empathetic. “They love doing things as a family. They really care about each other and other people.”

Other Parents Exploring Alternative Learning

While Asim’s story shows the benefits of self-directed learning, other parents in Malaysia have also turned to homeschooling for different reasons. Their stories are varied, yet they share a common thread of wanting more from their children’s education — not just academically, but personally.

Mrs Johnson, a mother of three, had experience with both public and private schooling systems. Her eldest son attended a government school, but she soon noticed a range of issues: frequent teacher absences, unmarked work, and a lack of academic feedback. When her daughter joined a private learning centre, the problems persisted. “The classes were overcrowded, with little academic feedback and long hours with minimal progress,” she recalls.

That’s when she decided to homeschool her two daughters. “It was a big financial commitment, and even today, our family continues to make sacrifices,” she admits. But Mrs Johnson believed in the long-term benefits of homeschooling. “I wanted to give my daughters the time and space to explore their passions, jewellery-making, baking, crafts, without the pressure of a packed school timetable.”

Her daughters, now in their late teens, achieved excellent IGCSE results: her eldest daughter earned 7 A*s, and her youngest daughter scored 3 As. Today, her eldest is studying in Perth, and her youngest is pursuing a Foundation programme.

But Mrs Johnson’s homeschooling journey wasn’t without its struggles. She recalls how her family often questioned her decision, especially when it came to her qualifications. “Some of my uncles and aunts said, ‘How can you teach maths? You didn’t do a teaching degree.’ Even my husband sometimes worried about whether they were covering enough of the curriculum.”

Despite the scepticism, Mrs Johnson never doubted her decision. “Homeschooling allowed my daughters to grow into confident, self-reliant individuals. They gained real-life skills, such as planning trips, budgeting, and selling their crafts at maker fairs. It was a decision that paid off in ways beyond academics.”

A Different Approach: Mrs Lim's Journey

For Mrs Lim, the decision to homeschool came after seeing two boys in her church community who carried themselves with remarkable maturity and confidence. “They were little adults,” she recalls. “They could converse with anyone and care for the younger kids.” Watching these boys, Mrs Lim and her husband saw qualities that weren’t always nurtured in a traditional schooling system, sparking their curiosity about homeschooling.

Like Mrs Johnson, Mrs Lim initially had concerns about the socialisation of homeschooled children. “I was worried: ‘But what about their socialisation?’” she says. However, her perception shifted when she saw the homeschooled boys’ exceptional ability to engage with people of all ages. “They were articulate and self-assured,” she adds, noting how these children were hardly the stereotypical “isolated homeschoolers.”

Over time, observing her own children and witnessing other homeschooled children in her community, she believes that it wasn’t homeschooling that limited socialisation, “On the contrary, I think schooled children lack socialisation skills,” she says. “Children in school mainly interact with peers of their exact age. Many shy away from seniors, look down on juniors, and remain glued to gadgets.” In contrast, her children had varied interactions with different age groups and developed the confidence to engage with adults as well as peers their own age or younger.

They had the opportunity to take initiative in various settings, such as starting and leading a floorball team, joining a homeschooled public speaking group, and even participating in various community-based activities. This real-world experience, Mrs Lim believes, allowed her children to develop stronger social skills, critical thinking, and leadership qualities that often aren’t nurtured in traditional school environments.

This perspective has allowed Mrs Lim and her family to embrace homeschooling wholeheartedly. “We follow a syllabus, but our main focus is on learning for the sake of knowledge, not just for exams,” she says. Their children also didn’t sit for formal exams until their IGCSE preparations. “On tough days, we take a break from formal learning, play, bake, or go to the library,” she explains.

Incorporating technology into their homeschooling journey was also crucial. Online platforms like Khan Academy and Wolsey Hall Oxford became key learning resources. However, Mrs Lim remains cautious about over-reliance on technology. “Though technology is useful, I believe hard work is better.”

Hesitations and Challenges

Both Mrs Lim and Mrs Johnson faced significant challenges when they made the decision to homeschool their children. While the benefits of homeschooling were clear to them, the road wasn’t always smooth.

For Mrs Lim, much of the pressure came from her family, especially given their background as educators. She faced scepticism and even criticism, as her decision to homeschool her children conflicted with the traditional path that many in her family had followed. "We got stares, talks, advice," she recalls. The doubts she encountered from relatives were not just about the educational choices she was making, but about challenging the very systems many of her family members had worked in for years. Despite these pressures, Mrs Lim stayed grounded in her belief that homeschooling was the best decision for her children, knowing that their unique needs could be better met through this approach. Her “why”; the desire to cultivate independence and curiosity in her children, helped her stay committed.

For Mrs Johnson, the challenges of homeschooling were more practical and financial. Managing the daily demands of teaching, household chores, and part-time work left her stretched thin. “I was everything: the teacher, the cook, the cleaner, the planner, and sometimes even a part-time worker,” she says, describing the heavy load she took on. Homeschooling required immense time and energy, and balancing these responsibilities was often exhausting. On top of that, Mrs Johnson had to make financial sacrifices. “I gave up a stable income to homeschool,” she shares, reflecting the financial strain that many homeschooling families face. The decision to leave her job was not an easy one, but it was a choice she believed was worth it in the long run, even if it meant fewer financial comforts.

In addition to the logistical and financial hurdles, both mothers faced questions and doubts from family members. Mrs Johnson recalls being asked, “How can you teach maths? You didn’t do a teaching degree,” which reflected a common misconception that homeschooling requires formal teaching qualifications. This was compounded by the uncertainty of whether her children would be adequately prepared for higher education or the workforce. Yet, both Mrs Lim and Mrs Johnson found that these challenges, though difficult, were outweighed by the benefits their children gained from the personalised learning environment they were creating.

Despite the difficulties they encountered, both mothers are steadfast in their belief that homeschooling was the right decision for their families. Mrs Lim states simply, “It was the best decision ever,” with full confidence in the transformative impact homeschooling had on her children. She feels that their independence, critical thinking, and curiosity were nurtured far more effectively outside of traditional schooling.

Similarly, Mrs Johnson reflects, “It was the best decision ever,” acknowledging the sacrifices, but also recognising the growth her children experienced both academically and personally. For her, the results of homeschooling, her daughters' academic achievements, self-reliance, and passion for learning, made it all worthwhile.

Takeaways for Parents Considering Homeschooling

Homeschooling is not for everyone, and it comes with its challenges. As the experiences of Asim, Mrs Johnson, and Mrs Lim illustrate, the decision to homeschool is profoundly personal and requires dedication, flexibility, and support. The most important takeaway is this: parents should have a clear understanding of their child’s needs and the long-term goals they want to achieve.
Before choosing homeschooling, it is vital to consult Malaysia’s Ministry of Education guidelines to ensure the decision aligns with local regulations. By focusing on the child’s individual needs and interests, homeschooling can provide a personalised, enriching experience that extends beyond academic success.

Mrs Johnson advises parents to be aware of the commitment involved, noting that homeschooling is a “big financial commitment” and will require significant sacrifices, especially if both parents are working. “Expect 3-5 hours of daily learning, a lot of hands-on involvement, and days that don’t always go as planned,” she says. Her advice to parents is to “enjoy the process” rather than approach it with stress or resentment. “A structured curriculum helps reduce stress, and starting children young helps them adapt smoothly to learning at home,” she adds. It’s also crucial to keep in mind that flexibility is important, and homeschooling requires a balance of routine and creativity to make learning engaging and productive.

Similarly, Mrs Lim emphasises the importance of having a clear “why” before embarking on the homeschooling journey. “Know your ‘why’; it has to be strong enough to last at least 18 years,” she says. She suggests that parents think carefully about the decision, as it involves being all-in. She notes the difficulty of juggling various roles, from teacher to parent, and advises parents to be prepared to “wear many hats.” However, she reassures that if homeschooling aligns with a family’s values and goals, the rewards will far outweigh the challenges. She also highlights the importance of patience and resilience in the process, as things won’t always go smoothly.

Both Mrs Johnson and Mrs Lim agree that homeschooling requires a clear vision and constant reflection. Mrs Johnson reminds parents to focus on the child’s holistic development, ensuring they grow not only academically but also emotionally and socially. She also stresses the importance of engagement, suggesting that families not just focus on academic lessons but actively incorporate real-life experiences that enrich learning.

For parents who might feel overwhelmed or unsure about homeschooling, Mrs Lim’s advice is simple yet powerful: “If you’re unsure, just send them to school. But if you know this is what you want, be prepared for the long road ahead. It’s worth it.”

Conclusion

As seen in the stories of Asim, Mrs Johnson, and Mrs Lim, homeschooling offers unique advantages when approached thoughtfully and with intention. Though it requires sacrifices, flexibility, and a strong sense of purpose, it can provide children with the freedom to learn at their own pace, explore their interests, and become independent, confident individuals. If you're considering homeschooling, take the time to understand your child’s needs, consult the necessary resources, and design a learning path that nurtures both academic growth and personal development.

Disclaimer:
The experiences shared in this article reflect individual family journeys and are intended for informational purposes only. The names of some interviewees have been changed to respect their privacy and confidentiality. Homeschooling in Malaysia is subject to approval by the Ministry of Education under the Education (Amendment) Act 2025. Parents interested in alternative learning options are advised to consult official guidelines or seek formal advice before making any decisions regarding their child’s education.