For many mother and father, faculty is likely one of the first massive selections of childhood. For Iftekhar and Shaheera, it was a choice they selected to step away from. Their 12-year-old twins, Isa and Sheherazad, have by no means attended a standard faculty. As a substitute, their mother and father have constructed studying round journey, conversations, books, tutors, household and on a regular basis experiences.The story gives a better take a look at unschooling, an method that asks a really completely different query: does studying should observe a timetable and a syllabus?
5 Oct 2026 | 12:06
Mother and father, when your baby refuses to greet family members, do you make them say hi there or respect their selection?
What precisely is unschooling?
Unschooling isn’t merely retaining a baby at dwelling as a substitute of sending them to highschool. It’s an method through which studying is guided extra by a baby’s pursuits, questions and experiences than by a set faculty curriculum.Additionally Learn: Nana Patekar dies at 75: The household he leaves behind and the quiet life he constructed away from Bollywood’s fixed highlightA baby may be taught geography whereas travelling, perceive historical past by locations and folks, or discover science after changing into interested by one thing seen in on a regular basis life.The Calcutta Unschoolers group describes this as studying by life, household, books, on-line sources, grandparents and the broader neighborhood.
How is it completely different from homeschooling?
The 2 phrases are sometimes used interchangeably, however they aren’t at all times the identical.Homeschooling can nonetheless observe a deliberate curriculum, classes and educational targets exterior a standard faculty. Unschooling takes a much less structured method and offers higher significance to the kid’s pursuits and pure curiosity.That doesn’t imply there aren’t any boundaries. The mother and father interviewed by The Telegraph’s My Kolkata harassed that self-discipline, parental involvement and energetic steering nonetheless matter.
What does studying appear to be for these twins?
In response to The Higher India, Isa and Sheherazad research topics together with arithmetic, science, historical past and languages. They’ve tutors and use on-line sources, whereas journey turns into a part of their training.The twins have additionally learnt English and Bengali grammar and converse Marwari, in line with the report.Their mother and father say the purpose is to not take away studying however to maneuver it past a classroom. Iftekhar, who skilled typical education himself, mentioned he needed his kids to discover life, uncover what pursuits them and finally select their very own paths.
The liberty comes with a accountability
That is the place the concept turns into extra difficult than a easy “faculty versus no faculty” debate.Unschooling can supply kids extra room to discover. Nevertheless it additionally locations appreciable accountability on mother and father. They want time, sources, persistence and the power to recognise whether or not a baby’s curiosity is definitely turning into significant studying.Even households featured by My Kolkata acknowledged that the selection might be difficult. One father or mother described the expertise as demanding, notably as a single mom.There’s additionally the sensible query of future {qualifications}. In response to Iftekhar college students can pursue recognised certification by the Nationwide Institute of Open Education (NIOS), whereas some abroad establishments have completely different admission necessities.ID@undefined Caption not out there.ID@undefined Caption not out there.ID@undefined Caption not out there.
Is unschooling proper for each baby?
In all probability not. And which may be an important lesson from this story.Some kids thrive with lecture rooms, academics, mates, routines and clearly outlined educational targets. Others could flourish when given extra freedom to observe their pursuits.The expertise of Isa and Sheherazad doesn’t show that one system is best than one other. It exhibits that training can take completely different types, however each different nonetheless wants dedication, construction and cautious thought.For fogeys, maybe the extra helpful query isn’t whether or not faculty ought to disappear. It’s whether or not kids are getting sufficient house to stay curious even after the college day ends.Disclaimer: This text explains unschooling by the reported experiences of households. It doesn’t suggest unschooling over typical education.