Beyond classroom education: Can home-schooling be a smarter, cheaper alternative?

Similarly, Katheeja Banu, a 44-year-old single parent and shadow teacher from Navi Mumbai, has homeschooled her two daughters—16-year-old appearing for 10th grade this year and 8-year-old—for three years. A shadow teacher is like a personal guide for a child inside the classroom to support students with their studies, behaviour and social skills.

"Homeschooling offers better value for money compared to international schools and eliminates stress of deadline-driven fee payments,” Banu says, adding that unlike traditional schools, homeschooling does not entail separate charges for lab fees, library fees, sports events, or annual day participation.

Homeschooling can slash costs compared to traditional schooling, but it demands astute planning to avoid pitfalls.

Homeschooling vs traditional schooling

Traditional schools in India often follow formal structures like CBSE, ICSE or state boards, with fixed timetables, mandatory attendance, and standardised curriculum. “Fees at mid-tier private schools can range from Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh annually, excluding extras like transportation, uniforms, and event fees. International boards like International Baccalaureate (IB) escalate this to Rs 8 lakh-9 lakh or more annually,” says Anamika Dasgupta, Director at Pune-based The Wonder School, which offers an open schooling facility.

A survey conducted by LocalCircles in May found that 44 percent of parents reported having to grapple with fee hikes of 50-80 percent or more over the past three years. The survey polled over 18,000 parents of school going children in 301 districts.

Homeschooling, by contrast, shifts the onus on parents to educate their kids home, often using the curriculum of open boards like NIOS, which is government-recognised since 1981.

Dawood Vaid, Founder of Golden Sparrow Academy - a micro school and an online school focused on Open Schooling explains, "Homeschooling gives children freedom to learn at their own pace and choose subjects of interest, unlike traditional schools' fixed timetables." Financially, this translates to lower direct costs—NIOS registration fees amount to Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 annually.

“NIOS graduates are eligible for higher education and jobs, akin to CBSE,” says Dasgupta. According to Vaid, students can, after completing NIOS graduation, pursue higher studies, including at international universities. “I have seen students being enrolled with Greenwich University in the UK, University of Birmingham, University of Wollongong in Dubai and so on, often 1-1.5 years early, saving on extended education timelines,” he adds.

Understanding the math

“In pure play homeschooling structures, parents devise the curriculum, choose subjects and decide the pace of learning. Parents or tutors teach the child at home. Learning can be personalised, using online resources and books, or experiential methods,” Vaid explains.

Whereas open schooling follows a structured curriculum set by institutions like NIOS. “Students have some flexibility in choosing subjects and can learn at their own pace, but they must adhere to the prescribed syllabus and exam schedule. Students study independently using provided study materials,” says Vaid. NIOS offers contacts of study centres, and students can seek guidance from accredited tutors.

Homeschooling costs vary by approach. Costs in the case of pure homeschooling, where parents supervise, can range from Rs 45,000 to Rs 75,000 annually, including NIOS fees, materials and tutors. To be sure, lack of a structure as formal and rigid as that of traditional schools means that costs can vary hugely.

Pednekar estimates the annual cost for educating her daughter at around Rs 2 lakh, which includes exam fees, coaching and study materials. However, this can vary significantly from family to family.

For instance, at Golden Sparrow Academy, online programmes cost Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000, while physical campuses are Rs 75,000. Banu, a single parent homeschooling her two daughters (16 and 8 years of age), pays Rs 60,000 for primary school and Rs 90,000 for ninth grade.

Wonder School, which offers an open schooling facility, charges an average fee of Rs 1.25 lakh. These fees include meals, industry mentors, community projects, and personalised learning.

Muddassar Nazar, CEO, Birla Brainiacs International School, which follows an open schooling structure adds, "Our annual costs start from Rs 50,000 to Rs 90,000, a consolidated fee versus traditional schools' escalating expenses."

“Compared to traditional schooling fees, homeschooling can be 50-70 percent cheaper, eliminating transport and hidden fees,” estimates Vaid.

Cost-saving strategies

Communities play a key role -- for instance, Pednekar extensively relies on homeschooling communities on Facebook and Google groups, where parents share resources and advice. “We also follow the Cambridge Primary Years Curriculum, which is accessible online and reduces the need for expensive materials,” she explains.

Banu leverages from crowdfunding and scholarships for her daughters. "I used crowdfunding when initial scholarship attempts failed, and combined it with organisational support," says Banu.

Dasgupta feels that the money saved by opting for open schooling can be invested towards creating an adequate corpus for higher education. “After all, the cost of higher studies, particularly overseas education, are expected to rise significantly,” she says.

According to Vaid, he has seen parents use other strategies such as use of digital textbooks and recycled materials; also, they save on the costs related to school bus or private commute, saving at least Rs 36,000 a year. "The stable cost structure of homeschooling allows better monthly planning—no surprises enable consistent saving,” says Banu.

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Not all fun and games

Despite savings, flexibility and freedom from peer pressure, challenges persist. Pednekar admits, “At times, we’ve faced financial challenges, especially when enrolling Aarna in multiple enrichment activities. We managed this by setting clear priorities, planning ahead, and making use of free or low-cost resources shared by homeschool communities.”

Banu, as a single parent, struggles with scholarship recognition. "Some organisations don't recognise smaller homeschooling setups as legitimate, making funding harder," says Banu.

Some homeschooling centres provide need-based scholarships. For instance, Golden Sparrow aids 20 percent of tuition fees for students, while Wonder School offers 50-75 percent reductions, and Birla Brainiacs provides merit/need-based aid.

Parents, do your homework

Getting clarity on the recognition the schooling structure is eligible for is most important. "Confirm NIOS affiliation—students can complete education earlier while gaining top admissions,” says Vaid. Nazar recommends checking faculty, tech tools, and post-school pathways and career counselling in case of open schooling centres.

Dasgupta says, “While choosing a board, be mindful whether it aligns with your child's future aspirations. For example, Cambridge Open Board is an excellent option for those who don't need to stick to conventional career options. But if the aim is to sit for competitive exams, or take admission into traditional Indian universities, it may not be the best option due to lack of recognition.” Also assess transparency, number of students in a class, and scholarships.

Other financial checks include all-inclusive fees, tax deductibility, and parental feedback for value.

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The higher education hurdle

Homeschooled students can, at times, face challenges while enrolling for higher education courses. According to Ankit Mehra, Co-Founder and CEO of GyanDhan, a firm that offers education loans, foreign universities don't reject homeschoolers outright, but they scrutinise their applications more closely. “Many top universities in the US, UK, and Canada accept homeschooled students, but require additional documentation, such as detailed coursework records, strong standardised test scores, and letters of recommendation. Universities like Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford have admitted homeschooled students who demonstrate academic excellence, a rigorous curriculum, and outstanding extracurricular achievements,” he says.

Homeschooling: A worthwhile investment?

Homeschooling might offer lower costs, predictability and leave room for higher savings for future education, but requires diligent planning and vigilance by parents.

Neha Sharma, Director at Keystone Global, an education platform, offers a differing perspective, noting that India lacks a standardised format for homeschooling, unlike countries such as the UK. “Even with homeschooling, students must ultimately clear exams from a recognised board to integrate into the mainstream workforce or pursue higher education, rendering homeschooling in India more akin to private studies,” she says.

Mehra notes that homeschooling's effectiveness depends heavily on parental capability, which can vary greatly. Some families may have access to quality resources and support, while others may face challenges due to limited time, academic background, or financial constraints, leading to potential learning gaps. “One challenge is the lack of consistent social interaction in homeschooling, which is a key benefit of traditional schools, where children develop essential communication and collaboration skills through diverse interactions,” Mehra adds.