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F
o r many o f us ,
selecting the right
s c h o o l f o r o u r
children is, af ter
choosingwhere to live, themost
important decision we have to
make when moving to a new
country. In Singapore there’s
a wide choice of international
schools, most of which offer a
multicultural environment, with
students from a diverse range
of backgrounds and countries.
Add to this a wide variety
of curriculums, from single-
country programmes to the
International Baccalaureate
and International Primar y
Curriculum, and there’s not
much more that a parent could
wish for.
While a visit to a school is
often the best way to make an
instinctive decision based on
the individual needs of your
children, hearing the opinions
of other families about their
experiences can be invaluable.
The following pages feature
a multitude of referrals from
Expat Living
readers to help
you decide on a school.
Checklist
A few things to take into account when choosing a school:
Check the location of the campus, and its convenience to your home
and transport options.
Ensure the curriculum fits your child’s education needs and your
future plans; the right fit may minimise the disruption of moving to
another country and changing schools.
Class sizes and teacher-to-child ratios vary markedly from school to
school.
Mandarin is widely taught as a compulsory language, but there are
often other options, including European languages.
Extra-curricular activities can offer children a balance to the academic
experience. Most schools offer a wide range of sports, music and the
arts.
Most international schools come with a higher price tag than expats
may be accustomed to in their home countries.
School holidays and term dates vary from school to school.
Depending on the age of your child, schools often encourage parent
participation; if work commitments allow, this can be a wonderful
way to meet new people and get to know the school.
Because of the tropical climate, outdoor experiences are a feature
of most schools; check the facilities available.
School excursions to a range of countries are a normal part of the
school curriculum; they often focus on learning about other countries
and sometimes on volunteering.
DID YOU KNOW?
•
There are currently 73 international schools in Singapore,
catering for almost 52,000 students.
•
The Singaporean government coordinates the availability
of international school places in line with demand.
•
Singaporean student enrolments constitute approximately
four percent of the total international school population.
•
Malaysia aims to be the sixth-largest education exporter
by 2020 with a target of 200,000 international students
(
The Star Online
).
•
TheOECD estimates the global population of international
students could reach five million this year.
•
During 2013, the global international schools market
generated US$35 billion annually in fee income.
Statistics courtesy of monitor.icef.com