Cynthia Hancox.com
  • Home
    • About >
      • Personal Testimonies
  • Homeschooling
    • Application Reviews
    • Application Writing
    • Phone Consultations
    • Support & Advocacy
    • Government Liaison
    • Feedback
  • Contact
  • Information Index
    • Information
    • Videos
  • Products
    • Exemption Guide
    • Planning Your Programme
    • Topic Plans & Unit Studies
    • Basic Exemption Guide
    • Book of Centuries
    • Geography Passports
  • Donate

A Big Fat Rumour: Homeschooling applications closing

10/17/2021

5 Comments

 
There is a rumour circulating on social media. The wording varies a wee bit depending who is passing it on, but basically it goes something like this:

"Homeschooling applications being closed for 2 years from the end of October. This is to enable them to jab your child.." Apparently told to someone's neighbour by the homeschooling team. (Chinese whispers anyone?)

This is complete nonsense! Since I first wrote this, there have been various other rumours circulating, some sadly perpetuated by people in positions who should know better but shall not be named. Regardless of where you hear any such rumour from, there are NO changes to application processes, and there are no deadlines or cut offs. Nor are school principals involved in reviewing applications. 

The right to home educate your child is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is entrenched in at least 2 sets of laws:
The Care of Children Act 2004
The Education and Training Act 2020

To change that, the government would have to amend both of them. There is no evidence of any bills or amendments targeted at the relevant sections of those Acts. 

There is also nothing to suggest, in any of the accessible Ministry websites, newsletters, or other information that there are any changes being made around home education. 

While on rare occasions in the past someone from the Ministry might have given incorrect information about various things related to home education to people making inquiries, this one is way out in left field in terms of credibility. I can't begin to imagine what the true foundation or motivation behind this nonsense is, but please, don't spread this rumour. It's only causing unnecessary stress to people, and there's enough stress going on in the world right now.

Update 19th Oct - this just in from Janine Moss, Manager, Provider Services at the Ministry (this is the senior staff member in over-all charge of home education as part of her broader portfolios):

"....about the information circulating which is stating that Ministry home education applications are closing at the end of this month for two years. We have been hearing this through our regional education advisors too.
 
These are false statements. There has been no change to the home education application process, there are no new deadlines for submitting applications, and no changes have been made to the Education and Training Act 2020.  
 
Parents and caregivers who want to home educate their child aged between 6 and 16 years can apply for an exemption for home education in accordance with section 38 of the Education and Training Act 2020. There are no deadlines or close off dates for applications.
 
Please feel free to share this [information] widely with your home education colleagues and families. If people want to discuss the false statements and the misinformation that is circulating they can email [email protected] and we will respond to their queries." 

Further update from Janine Moss 28th February 2022:

"There is no change to the home education application process. Parents can apply for an exemption to home educate their children at any time, there are no deadlines, close off dates or time frames.
 
When an application is received the Ministry does notify the principal of the enrolling school and requests any information relevant to the processing of the application. The application is definitively not sent to the school." 

Picture
5 Comments
James
10/17/2021 10:46:46 pm

Goodone, Thanks for letting us know, and hope you are well! From James and Sheryl, Taumarunui

Reply
Margaret
10/18/2021 11:41:32 am

Hi Cynthia-
I agree that this rumor sounds like a lot of hogwash. However, it got me thinking, and I wondered what you thought: could the ministry just start denying all exemption applications? That would allow them to do effectively the same thing as this rumor purports without having to change the legislation. Not that I think they would, but just curious if such a thing would be hypothetically possible.

Reply
Laura
10/19/2021 02:45:07 am

Who knows anymore. I'd never have thought we'd be living lockdowns and forced fully approved medical treatments.

Reply
Naiomi George
11/2/2021 05:18:37 pm

Great News. Thank you.

Reply
Mariam link
9/7/2024 11:05:39 pm

Appreciiate your blog post

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Information Blog

    This page is where I will share information on various topics relevant to home education. The Information Index page lists all topics by group, or use the Categories below.

    New to homeschooling?

    Start HERE

    Archives

    February 2025
    December 2024
    March 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    September 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    July 2016
    May 2016

    Categories

    All
    2023 MoE Review
    5 Year Olds
    ACE
    Advocacy
    Allowance
    Census
    Christmas Period
    COVID 19
    Declarations
    Declined Exemptions
    Disabled Students
    Distance Learning
    Early Childhood
    Early Leaving Exemptions
    Education And Training Bill
    Education & Training Act
    Employment Of Students
    ERO
    Exemptions
    Family Numbers
    Foreign Students And Visitors
    Getting Started
    Governmental Review
    Government Policies
    High School Qualifications
    Importing Resources
    In The News
    Irlens
    Jury Duty
    Lapbooks
    Learning Difficulties
    Legal Information
    Media Interviews
    Media Requests
    Ministry Contacts
    Ministry Processes
    More Info Requests
    Multi-Child Applications
    NCEA
    NSNs
    Part Time Homeschooling
    Playcentre
    Private School Operating As
    Schonell & Burt Tests
    School Trials
    Socialisation
    Statistics
    Success Stories
    Supervision Allowance
    Surveys
    Te Kura
    Truancy/Attendance
    Unexpectedly Homeschooling
    Videos

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.