The Upsides and Downsides of International Schools

International schools are right now one of them most popular choices in terms of enrolling students or children.  It is popular among expatriate parents and local resident parents as well for several reasons.  An English school in Tianjin and the Ascot International School in Thailand as well as many other international schools around the rest of the world are receiving several queries from parents who are interested to enrol their children at these schools.  As parents, you also have to remember that there are advantages and disadvantages for you to consider so that you won’t be short changed in the future.

Upsides of International Schools or English Schools

Some parents are already in the know about some of the advantages; nonetheless, it is still important to share these with other parents as well.

1. Excellent teachers – it is one of the vital requirements in order for an English school to be accredited as an international school.  It has to maintain highly qualified teachers and probably one of the best in their respective fields.  The benefit therefore is that your child will learn from the best teachers.
2. International standards of learning – most international schools are after the international baccalaureate program and seal of approval.  It means that course programs, subjects, curriculum, and syllabus are geared towards global acceptability.  As such, your children are trained to be universally acceptable and aware of global current realities.
3. State of the Art Facilities – because it charges high tuition and other school fees, naturally, international schools are equipped with the latest technologies and right infrastructures to help facilitate learning and acquiring of skills for your children.  Thus, learning becomes easy for them.  Some of the interesting features of international schools are: air-conditioned rooms, security surveillance gadgets, a conducive learning environment, transportation facilities, modern audio visual rooms and up to date libraries.
4. Higher chances of getting into college – because of the above upsides, it is likely that your children will perform better or can compete with other children coming from excellent local schools as well.  Thus, the chances of your children being accepted in any colleges and universities around the world are higher.

Downsides of International Schools

It is a known fact that this type of school is really expensive; it is not the only downside though, there are other disadvantages of sending your children to international schools.

1. Location – some of these schools are located in urban cities or in outskirts.  The danger of being located in cities is that it may lack the desired learning environment necessary for children and expose them to distractions such as noise, malls, and entertainment facilities.  However, if it is situated in far flung places, it might not be accessible to some parents and children.
2. Local Acceptance – while it follows international baccalaureate programs, there is a tendency for some international schools to exclude local requirements; thus, when the child is transferred to a local school, there is a probability that he or she has to take up another set of subjects and courses in order for him or her to be accepted.

When you consider enrolling your children in an English school in Tianjin or in any international school in China, it is wise to weigh the upsides first before the downsides. As such, you treat downsides as challenges worthy of the effort to search for solutions.

About the Author

Maria Madrid wants to help families who are moving abroad by providing tips on how to ensure their children are enrolled at school properly.