School Guide

The International School System Could Be the One for Your Child - Here's Why

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Mar 01, 2017

One of the biggest dilemmas faced by parents is choosing the right education path for their children, it requires research and deliberation.

Acknowledging this, education portal SchoolAdvisor.my organised a forum on March 25, featuring Association of International Malaysian Schools’ chairman Andrew Dalton and UCSI International School’s founding principal Brendan Lanza, to reach out to parents with interest and queries.

Based on their years of expertise in teaching and management, the panellists spoke about the advantages, challenges and prospects of international education in a local context.

Here's the top 5 reasons why an international system could be the right education path for your child.

1. Guidance from world’s best teachers

image via RNIB

 The high cost of sending a child to an international school has always been a worry, but Dalton says this helps ensure schools are able to keep valuable teaching staff on the payroll. The teaching staff in a good international school are well equipped with experience, knowledge and teaching methods that are uniquely designed to bring out the best in every child.

2. Parental participation

image via Parent Infant Center

Be prepared for an active parental participation when your child is enrolled into an international schools. The international school board takes great pride in its initiative to establish active channels of communication between parents and teachers. This could be achieved through newsletters, e-mails and chat groups. Also, you will be asked to lend a hand in special school events such as a drama production and class projects, working alongside teachers to provide support.

Getting involved with genuine interest sends a message to your children that their education matters to you and is, therefore, something they should take seriously.

3. Your child is set for a life of excellence

image via giasuhanoi24h.com

According to Lanza, a good school focuses on providing a solid base of knowledge and skills, which students can apply in any career they wish to pursue. For example, the use of various learning aids trains children to work with technology for the best outcomes, which will prove crucial in future careers that we know little about. As Dalton pointed out, "65 percent of the jobs that our children will be doing in future aren't even created just yet and so, schools must train children to think and solve problems to take on these new jobs".

4. A student's ability is never compared

image via Connect for Kids

An interesting point brought up by Lanza is the unique feature of international schools that does not compare a child’s ability and capabilities with others. Each student is assessed individually to measure his or her strengths and needs. The school will then tailor lessons suited to that child’s interest so that they can excel in studies. He added, “this clearly works to the advantage of students as they continue to produce outstanding results”.

5. A happy child is open to learning

image via The Happy Housewife

The combination of exciting lessons, supportive facilities, parent-teacher cooperation and a diverse social sphere creates an environment conducive to learning. Together with the emphasis on nurturing real-life skills, international schools ensure that education goes beyond rote learning to cater to every student’s talents and capabilities. When children are comfortable and happy, learning becomes easy and enjoyable.