A Qualitative Exploration of Parents' Experiences of Homeschooling in the United Arab Emirates: Motivations and Challenges

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.