Trends and regulations for home education vary across Europe, showing diverse practices and debates.
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Enrollment in home education is steadily increasing across various European countries, though for different reasons and under varying regulations. In Lithuania, the number has risen significantly over six years, with the Ministry of Education noting that factors like parental relocation or desire for a stable environment are cited, rather than pandemic influence. Lithuanian authorities monitor home-schooled children from private institutions through safety checks covering welfare, substance abuse, and adherence to educational requirements.
In Greece, home education is rare, typically reserved for severe illness, but recent increases in requests have raised concerns about procedural fairness, with some suggesting underlying issues like religious objections or parental avoidance of school tracking. The private teachers’ federation suggests these reasons are often masked.
France has seen a sharp decline in the number of children educated at home following the pandemic peak, as stricter requirements for permits were implemented. Current approved reasons include health issues, intensive extracurricular activities, family moves, or specific educational projects. Discussions in France focus more on institutional rigidity than parental abuse.
Austria has returned to pre-pandemic levels of home schooling, which was significantly higher during COVID-19 restrictions. The system allows homeschooling without mandatory school attendance, provided students pass annual state exams.
Spain operates in a legal gray area; while the Constitution recognizes parental rights to education based on beliefs, current law mandates attendance at recognized institutions for ages six to sixteen, leading many families to organize discreetly through associations.
In Italy, the number of home-schooled children has tripled since the pandemic, with parents required to submit declarations regarding their technical and financial capacity and an educational program. While generally not controversial, a high-profile case in Abruzzo highlighted concerns over living conditions and social ties.
Czech Republic shows a continuous rise in home education enrollment, accelerated by the pandemic. Although official reasons are not always provided, reports indicate parents often cite dissatisfaction with the standard system or specific needs. A public defender recently noted instances where some primary school directors pressured parents to opt for homeschooling their children with disabilities.
