The extraordinary upsurge in home schooling around the Island is a powerful demonstration of the lack of confidence that many parents have in public education.

So it is not surprising that home school teachers and parents are wary about the alleged plans of the Ministry of Education to more closely supervise them.

Why would they want to put themselves under the supervision of the very institution that they are trying to escape?

At the same time, there is a need for some regulation of home schools. While many teachers and parents are doing a first class job, there will always be unscrupulous or incompetent people who will take unwitting parents' money when they don't know the difference between a noun and a verb.

More talks between the parents, home school teachers and the Ministry are needed to ensure that these institutions are delivering a sound education without drowning in Ministry red tape.