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Education
Seek Guidance and Start Building Your
Network
Seek help and guidance from education consultants for
recommendations that go beyond artfully constructed school
websites and marketing campaigns. Buddy up with other parents
who have already made the transition and connect with other
expat families through support groups, parent networks, forums
and playgroups. Most international schools have a communicative
platform to support parental views and new families in the
community.
Do Your Research
Once you have a clear picture, coordinate your housing decisions
and do your research on the schools in the vicinity. Refer to school
websites and prospectuses for information on the curriculum,
learning philosophy, teaching practices, facilities and policies
safeguarding its community. The academic calendar will give
an idea of the events, activities and extracurricular programmes
available. Create a spreadsheet to easily compare details. For
families who are transferring for a long period, find out the levels
of education offered in the school to prevent unnecessary transfers
in between levels.
It is important to check that the school is registered by the Malaysian
Ministry of Education (MOE) and accredited by an internationally
recognised body to ensure proper standard attainment. Many
of these organizations, such as CIS (Council of International
Schools), COBIS (Council of British International Schools), FOBISIA
(Federation of British International Schools in Asia) and EARCOS
(East Asia Regional Council of Schools), have codes of practice and
standards that need to be met.
Contact the school principal or administrator directly to get a sense
of the environment and be primed for admission arrangements
and entrance examinations. Reveal information about your child
to secure better learning support. Do not be afraid to ask about
non-academic issues, for example, counselling services, parent
workshops and pastoral care. Arrange for follow-up meetings if
needed.
Visit the School in Person
No matter how much information you gather about the schools
online, there is no experience more accurate than seeing it in
person. If time and costs are not restricted, choose a school day
to visit the school, talk to the people there, ask questions about
learning and supportive care, and see how students and teachers
interact. Some schools do offer taster sessions for the child to
experience life at the school. If visiting is not an option, there are
some additional links listed below that could be useful in helping
you make the choice. At the end of the day, it is important that
your child is happy. Do not be afraid to change schools if it does
not turn out positively.
Useful Links
www.kiddy123.com
https://www.expatriatelifestyle.com/education
https://www.tegmedia.my/
http://kualalumpur.asiaxpat.com/
https://www.ibufamily.org/
https://abwm.com.my/
http://www.manza.org/
https://www.americanassociationofmy.com/
http://www.canadians-in-kl.com/
http://www.jckl.org.my/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/msiaintlschpsg/
Access other online resources. Cut through the confusion with
an up-to-date list of accredited preschools and local resources
at Kiddy123.com to help you make informed decisions. Detailed
school profile listings and in-depth reviews learned through
in-person school visits and face-to-face interviews, as well as
the relationships our team has developed with the local early
education community, serve as a way to help locate schools that
best accommodate every child’s needs and family’s circumstances.
Check on the school’s social media pages, do a google search and
look on YouTube too for other updates, events and school news.
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