Singapore Expats

Hi,
Please help with your thoughts and experience about changing from a local to International School. Has anyone done this for kids over 10? What has been your experience? Any regrets?
My child is doing well and being an Indian the local system is quite close to the Indian system.
Money is not a major issue but I would rather spend it on higher education.
Thanks.

I haven't done this, but I would be very interested to hear how you get on. We are thinking about doing something similar in a few years - maybe using local primary schools and wa-a-y down the track, an international high school.

If you were going the other way (international to local), I would be worried, but I think you will find it will be okay - your kids will undoubtedly be more disciplined in some areas than their peers, but the school culture is bound to be different.

Best of luck, anyway.

Thanks k1w1
The big question is when would be the right time. I have another couple of years to go so have started gathering info. Will let you know too.
mumbaigirl

Are you at all concerned that it may be too late by then? Thankfully, my toddler's only 2, but I know I'm going to have to face this decision in a few years (assuming I stick around in SG). What concerns me about local schools is this:

- generally God-awful level of English, including the educators themselves
- there's only one way of doing anything; any alternative approach is simply wrong
- innovation and creativity are merely words in the dictionary
- Singlish <shudder!!!>

My wife's an educator, so I'm aware that the government is making efforts to address these issues, but I fear it will take a generation before things can truly change. Only those who're inherently innovative and creative can inculcate this in youngsters.

Don't get me wrong, k1w1, I'm trying to understand what led to your decision, to see what other factors I've failed to consider.

Regards,

- V.

k1w1 wrote:I haven't done this, but I would be very interested to hear how you get on. We are thinking about doing something similar in a few years - maybe using local primary schools and wa-a-y down the track, an international high school.

Best of luck, anyway.

Aah, Varun. A can opener for the worms I see... 8)

Alright then. The following is my own opinion, and in know way should be used instead of professional advice or your own gut.

Let me start by saying that my kids are only in nursery too, so I have the "luxury" if you like, of thinking about these options, without having to jump right in yet. I teach local kids so I have a wee bit of an insight into the local schooling system - I would not say that I am an expert by any means, but I guess it means I have formed a few opinions.

Okay so local kids do have atrocious English most of the time. True. They are also not fabulous when it comes to creativity and individual thought. Also true. However, I am stunned time and time again by the level of their general knowledge, their level of education in the basic areas: Maths, Science and English (see previous comment about spoken langauge aquisition) but their reading is very, very good. They often seem to have additional hobbies too, such as music or sports. Now I am by no means spouting the merits of tuition all day and night or rote-learning, but these kids do have a good healthy dose of self-discipline - something which, in my opinion, is very sorely lacking from many schools in Western countries these days.

I also hold the opinion that school will do the ground work and parents will help guide the final "tweaking" at primary school age. Plus I think that if the kids are around, dare I say it, proper English at home then perhaps some of the Singlish accent might be diminished. Also the local schools are usually only in for half a day - plenty of time for additional things like art, music or sports then if you want it.

I know the local system is far from perfect, but in terms of the basic ground-work for the first few years of schooling, I think it is a viable option.

As for the magic age for transfer into an International School, I really don't know - perhaps before the PSLE!! Anyway, I definately don' t think that creativity will be totally quashed before the age of 12-13 (especially if mum and dad are being supportive in this area), but I do think that trying to install a serious sense of self-discipline towards your studies might be hard at this time. Now before someone gets angry about me "suggesting" that International Schools are slack - I am not saying this at all. But there is no denying that the expectations are different. I have heard a few nasty stories about international schools here, and a healthy share of stories from local schools, too. I don't think either way is a sure thing, really.

On top of this, the international schools charge a bomb in fees and the kids are generally only there for a couple of years on average. Fact I recently learned: Last year, the very first student graduated from OFS that had started in primary school and gone right through. I think for young children it would be very upetting to have your friends moving away all the time (we plan to be here for a while).

Anyway, as I say it might not be perfect and I may change my mind as we draw closer, but this is my reasoning at this stage. Our kids are currently in a local pre-school and while I have not been overly happy with some aspects of it, I am absolutely sure that it is a far better option than what would be available to them if we were back in New Zealand (I guess that would help your decision too - what would your kids school be like at home...)

Mumbaigirl, you mentioned that you had thought about the same options - is there anything that you had thought about that is different to my ramble?

hi k1w1
succinctly put! you hit the nail on the singlish part. like you said my reference scale was india and which education system will help him adjust there when we return. our Short Term Stay is lengthened by far so better plan for higher studies now.

i have taken a sabbatical from work and am enjoying time with my 10 year old son who is back by 1! we do everything together and i encourage him to try out all activities that interest him.

as for the syllabus, i feel geography and humanities is lacking in the local system and have started doing that with him. i am happy with the local, the only want being some 'compassion' which gets shortchanged.

hi k1w1
succinctly put! you hit the nail on the singlish part. like you said my reference scale was india and which education system will help him adjust there when we return. our Short Term Stay is lengthened by far so better plan for higher studies now.

i have taken a sabbatical from work and am enjoying time with my 10 year old son who is back by 1! we do everything together and i encourage him to try out all activities that interest him.

as for the syllabus, i feel geography and humanities is lacking in the local system and have started doing that with him. i am happy with the local, the only want being some 'compassion' which gets shortchanged.

k1w1 wrote: snip...
Also true. However, I am stunned time and time again by the level of their general knowledge, their level of education in the basic areas: Maths, Science and English (see previous comment about spoken langauge aquisition) but their reading is very, very good. They often seem to have additional hobbies too, such as music or sports.

Would this not apply to International School students too? Serious question...

k1w1 wrote: Now I am by no means spouting the merits of tuition all day and night or rote-learning, but these kids do have a good healthy dose of self-discipline - something which, in my opinion, is very sorely lacking from many schools in Western countries these days.

Again, is it your experience that this is true of international school students in Singapore too? I'd have thought that some of the "local influence" would've rubbed off... (and, again, genuine question)

k1w1 wrote: I also hold the opinion that school will do the ground work and parents will help guide the final "tweaking" at primary school age. Plus I think that if

You may well be right...

k1w1 wrote: are usually only in for half a day - plenty of time for additional things like art, music or sports then if you want it.

... and the international school students are in for longer?

k1w1 wrote: I have heard a few nasty stories about International Schools here, and a healthy share of stories from local schools, too. I don't think either way is a sure thing, really.

Could I bother you to share a few?

k1w1 wrote: On top of this, the international schools charge a bomb in fees and the

Yeah, that's a bummer... I've always thought that those of our friends (almost all, come to think of it) who don't send their kids to international schools have chosen this route more due to the fee differential rather than anything else. But I'm more than willing to be persuaded otherwise. It's the kind of question I'd feel awkward asking them to their face...

k1w1 wrote: I think for young children it would be very upetting to have your friends moving away all the time (we plan to be here for a while).

Hmmm... another element to ponder...

k1w1 wrote: than what would be available to them if we were back in New Zealand (I guess that would help your decision too - what would your kids school be like at home...)

See, this is the element that concerns me. Schools in India lack the kind of infrastructure (electronic and otherwise) as well as facilities that exist here. BUT the teachers in some of the better schools there (where my wife and I studied) were remarkably good. Slang / Hinglish (Hindi + English, one of many Indian equivalents of Singlish) wasn't tolerated, kids were taught how to walk (without shuffling their darned feet all over the place!), manners, courtesy, etc., were drilled in... I'm not sure the local schools are doing the job right in this respect. True, these are parental responsibilities too, but looking at the average Joe on the street, I can't help thinking to myself, "Who screwed up???"

Would appreciate a reply to some of the questions above... Thanks.

Cheers,

- V.

mumbaigirl wrote:hi k1w1

i am happy with the local, the only want being some 'compassion' which gets shortchanged.

Hi mumbaigirl. Could you expand on this?

Cheers,

- V.

Hi Varun,

Singapore is known for its discipline. Striving to achieve this, a few misbehaving children/ adults are pulled up and punished. The punishment is at times disproportionate to the errant behaviour. This is to serve as a deterrent to others. It happens in schools too and I don’t like this practice (in schools or outside).

mumbaigirl

Understood, mumbaigirl, thanks.

- V.

I am told that a second language is required in local schools. Other than Chinese, Malay or Tamil, what languages are allowed as a second language ?

Thanks
Blaze

Blaze wrote:I am told that a second language is required in local schools. Other than Chinese, Malay or Tamil, what languages are allowed as a second language ?

Thanks
Blaze

None. These classes are generally called "mother tongue" classes. So if you are Indian, you take Tamil, Malay - Malay. You get the idea. If you are foreign, you can opt out of this altogether and your child can sit in the classes without testing.

k1w1 wrote:

Blaze wrote:I am told that a second language is required in local schools. Other than Chinese, Malay or Tamil, what languages are allowed as a second language ?

Thanks
Blaze

None. These classes are generally called "mother tongue" classes. So if you are Indian, you take Tamil, Malay - Malay. You get the idea. If you are foreign, you can opt out of this altogether and your child can sit in the classes without testing.

Thanks for the reply. How would it work for my kid, who is an American of Indian origin? Does one go by citizenship or ethnicity ? Can he choose to sit in for Chinese lessons? Can he "sit in" for second language throughout the pre-college schooling ? If that's the case, does that not give (some) foreigners in local schools an advantage over kids who are forced to be tested on second language ?

Thanks
Blaze

Hi Blaze... The term mother tongue is not applied in the 'strict sense'. One just needs to get special approval from the MOE to learn another language. Lots of non-Tamil Indians are learning their mother tongue or 'Hindi' the Indian national language. So are a few foreigners learning chinese. 'Sit in' allows you just to attend classes... the specific approval means you take the exams too.
mumbaigirl