Croatian mother of five challenges norms with homeschooling advocacy

Carla Konta, a mother of five from Rijeka, is challenging traditional education norms in Croatia by advocating for homeschooling. She co-founded the association Homeschooling Hrvatska to push for this alternative educational model, which is not yet legally available for primary school students in the country.

Konta began seriously exploring homeschooling in 2021 after the birth of her fifth child. The association has been in discussions with the Ministry of Education and other relevant institutions, aiming to establish homeschooling as a viable option for Croatian families. This option would require clear regulations and oversight of educational outcomes.

While her younger children still attend regular school due to compulsory education laws, Konta's two eldest are pursuing secondary education through the Seton Home Study School, a Catholic program based in the United States. She believes this approach cultivates greater independence, curiosity, and responsibility in her children. Instead of spending full days in a classroom, they structure their learning around their interests and pace, typically dedicating about four hours in the morning to studies.

Konta emphasizes that parental involvement shifts from constant supervision to mentorship. "Parents often think that a child who is homeschooled needs constant discipline. In practice, these children are often very independent. They know what they need to do and are motivated because they want to maintain the freedom that this way of schooling provides them," she explained. Her family's schedule is flexible, with one daughter initially focusing on a single subject per day before switching to multiple subjects. This allows children to delve deeper into areas that capture their interest, such as the eldest daughter's independent pursuit of Japanese, leading to an exam at the University of Ljubljana.

Konta criticizes the conventional education system for its impact on student motivation, suggesting children often learn merely to meet expectations. The Seton program includes quarterly tests and written assignments, with long-term goals like preparing for the American SAT exam. Konta's efforts highlight a growing movement seeking diverse educational pathways in Croatia.

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Parents often think that a child who is homeschooled needs constant discipline. In practice, these children are often very independent. They know what they need to do and are motivated because they want to maintain the freedom that this way of schooling provides them.