Introduction
Should you send your child to an International School or a Public School is what many parents keep asking themselves. In the last few years, international schools with their glitzy campuses, international curriculums, and higher fee structures are emerging in different parts of the world.
They are often seen as a better alternative to public schools and private schools in many countries. With a new school year approaching, we thought it would be best to educate parents on what is an international school.
We will also look at the major differences between international schools and public schools. Lastly, we look at whether international schools end up benefitting students or are they just a marketing gimmick.
International Schools: Why are they becoming very popular among parents?
Imagine an Indian national who is by profession a Software Engineer moving to Singapore with his family. He will look for the best educational opportunities for his or her child.
Sending a child to a public school would mean that the kid would grow up in a very local culturally dominated environment. If there is an Invictus International school that is near you, they would prefer to send their kids there.
International schools provide a very global educational environment, that prioritizes the development of a student in the most holistic manner possible. In other words, for expatriate parents and foreign nationals, international schools are the most sensible option when it comes to their kids’ education.
With the world economy turning truly global, we see multiple foreign nationalities residing in different parts of the world, including the developing countries. International schools offer such families a safe, secure, and progressive educational environment for their kids’ schooling.
Major Differences between International and Public Schools
- In terms of the Educational Curriculum-
Most Public Schools follow a national educational curriculum that has been formulated by the respective governments of the land. Many states within these countries too have their boards and curriculums. The emphasis on linking themes across subject disciplines is not something that is encouraged in public schools.
International Schools on the other hand follow a global curriculum. The best international schools like Invictus follow a Cambridge International Global Assessment. For primary years, it is called IPC and for secondary school, it is referred to as IMYC and IGCSE. Emphasis is placed on developing links with thematic understanding across subject disciplines.
- The Way the English Language is Taught-
In most public schools, English is taught as a subject. In other words, students and teachers are encouraged to speak in English during the specific period of education. This means that everything that is done, every communication which is made is usually done in the native language.
In International Schools, emphasis is paid to something called Inquiry-Based Learning. This means that English is taught not only as a subject but as the only acceptable medium of communication. Students interact, communicate and discuss both within and outside the classroom strictly in the English language.
- The Kind of Faculty Members and Professional Services-
When you look at public schools, you will see mostly native teachers and other faculty members teaching in the school. Almost everyone is a local that has been hired from near the school. In other words, you will hardly see any foreigners teaching in a public school in any capacity-subject teacher or extracurricular coach.
In International School, the faculty profile is truly global. This means that you will find teachers from the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and other western countries imparting education and coaching for extracurriculars. This allows for cross-regional influences that seem to aid the cultural development of students studying in international schools.
- The Infrastructure on offer and the Size of the Class-
If you are someone that has undergone schooling in a public school you will remember how a teacher would teach a class of sixty to seventy students. In other words, the student-teacher ratio was very high. According to educational experts, the lower the ratio, the better is the quality of attention that each child receives.
When you compare the same to an international school, you will find that the student-to-teacher ratio is very low. It is not more than 1:20 or 1: 25. This ensures that every kid gets heard and the teacher can accord individual attention to them. This helps in holistic learning and allows kids with special attention to receive that much extra from their teachers.
- The Focus on Extracurriculars and Personal Development-
In public schools, not a lot of attention is paid to anything apart from education. It is all about studies, with little emphasis paid to sports, debates, quizzes, and other skill learning. To be very honest, public schools do not have the resources available either in terms of money or faculty, or infrastructure to carry out extracurriculars.
International schools on the other hand have decorated extracurricular focus points. With so many resources at their disposal, they make it a point to ensure that kids pick up great skills. We are talking about everything from swimming lessons to foreign language courses. This allows kids to cultivate their personalities and develop themselves at multiple levels.
Do Children Benefit from Attending International Schools?
After going through the above list of differences, many parents would be asking themselves this question.
The reality is that they do. International schools with their global outlook allow children to develop a global outlook. They evolve as much more aware and responsible citizens of a global community.
The fee structures of international schools are indeed much higher than public schools. That being said, you are paying for the best education that your child can receive. There is a reason why international schools are becoming popular.
They are creating and raising confident children, have positive personalities, and are great at multiple things apart from simply education.
If you would want us to discuss any more points in international schools, let us know in the comments section below. We will ask our education experts to answer all your queries about international schools and how they can help develop children in the best possible fashion.