Document Type
Article
Source of Publication
International Journal of Learning Teaching and Educational Research
Publication Date
10-1-2025
Abstract
Homeschooling in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an understudied phenomenon despite the growing numbers of homeschoolers. Controversies about homeschooling and its impact on children’s well-being create a social stigma around families that choose to homeschool their children for various reasons. This study explored the experiences of homeschoolers in the UAE, specifically, the motivations for homeschooling and the challenges homeschooling families face during the experience. The study followed a qualitative exploratory approach using a semi-structured interview. The sample consisted of 16 parents of different nationalities living in the UAE. Data were analyzed using a thematic approach to gain an in-depth understanding of participants’ experiences. The findings revealed that parents in the UAE homeschool their children for various reasons including their desire to provide a child-centered education. The findings also showed that the main concern homeschoolers have is the absence of a legal framework for homeschooling in the UAE. The study suggested creating an open dialogue where homeschoolers in the UAE can share their experiences with policymakers for a better understanding and a possible amendment to the current educational laws and policies that don’t officially recognize homeschooling. Although this study fills the gap in the literature concerning homeschooling in the UAE, more research is needed to understand the phenomenon and provide practical recommendations.
DOI Link
ISSN
Publisher
Society for Research and Knowledge Management
Volume
24
Issue
10
First Page
307
Last Page
330
Disciplines
Education
Keywords
alternative education, alternative schooling, educational policy, Homeschooling, parents’ experiences
Scopus ID
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Aldhaheri, Reem Thani, "A Qualitative Exploration of Parents' Experiences of Homeschooling in the United Arab Emirates: Motivations and Challenges" (2025). All Works. 7690.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/works/7690
Indexed in Scopus
yes
Open Access
yes
Open Access Type
Gold: This publication is openly available in an open access journal/series