International Schools Vs National Schools

An international school is different from national schools in many ways: it has a completely different curriculum, different grade of teachers, class sizes, fees, etc. In the last few years, the popularity of international schools has transcended beyond the wealthy sections of the society to the middle class families. It has become common for parents to take education loans as early as when their kids are in school, all in the hope of providing them with a better future. The question we need to ask here is: are international schools really worth the hype?

Choosing the best school for your kid can be a challenge. There is no binary answer here – neither of these schools can be categorised into right or wrong for your child.

Let us look at how an international school is different from other schools.

International curriculum:

In an international school, your child will learn subjects and things that are not limited to the country in which you live. The syllabus is designed to provide a more wholesome, multi-cultural, 360 degree education. Your kids are more likely to be future-ready with this kind of education, although it may mean that they will lack a deep knowledge of their own community and culture unless it is provided to them at home.

Smaller Classes, Better Engagement:

This is the first thing that when a child who has studied in a national school steps into an international school will realise. The personal care and attention provided in these schools is unparalleled. Of course, it comes at a premium cost. However, in today’s age, when parents don’t have enough time to pay close attention to weak students, such engagement levels can do wonders for the child’s mental and emotional growth. Moreover, the child feels more special if there are lesser kids in the class and the teacher can pay attention to their students.

Inquiry-based learning:

While most other schools have a model which ‘teaches’ stuff to children, international schools work on a whole new level. They impart knowledge by a method called Inquiry-based learning. In this method, children learn through questioning and doing rather than being 'taught'. For example, instead of asking a kid to read aloud a paragraph in the class and pointing out his mistakes whenever he goes wrong, under inquiry-based learning, kids are encouraged to read at their own pace and write book reviews which improves their thinking capacity.

Fees:

Let’s talk about the elephant on the page: the huge financial cost that one must incur if he/she sends his/her kid to an international school. National schools, although expensive by themselves, are still cheaper than their foreign counterparts. This is a stark difference between the two, and often a deciding factor for most parents based on their paying abilities.

Although the best international schools come at a price, more often than not, they are worth it. At the end of the day, your child’s success depends on themselves. Schools can only recognise and hone the talent that is already present, they cannot make fundamental changes in a person, no matter how young the child is. However, for kids who are a bit weak, a school which has smaller classrooms and better teachers can do wonders and prepare them to survive in this cut-throat competition.