What Type of Education is Best for My Child?
If your son or daughter is fast approaching preschool age, your thoughts will soon be turning to finding a school and there is a lot to take into account. One might ask the question, “Are all schools the same?” The short answer is no, although schools might share common beliefs regarding how students best learn, they are all unique in many respects. Some schools are focused on academic excellence, while other encourage sports, and with that in mind, here are some different types of schools, along with their strengths and weaknesses.
International Schools
Globally regarded as the best form of academic education, the British international school in Bangkok is a classic example of a leading school with an international program. The school uses the UK National Curriculum and generally imports teachers from the UK, which means the students receive the best possible education. While international school education is expensive, it is a sound investment, as the students fulfil their fullest potential, often going on to study at a top university, which is why many parents send their children to such schools. Take Thailand as an example, if a Thai student can become fluent in English, they have a much better chance to land a good job and with all subjects taught using English, 12 years of study ensures that the students are fluent in English.
Private Schools
This is the middle level school, which is run independently by a private entity and must adhere to the Ministry of Education guidelines and the school can create their own curriculum, which would be submitted for approval. Some private schools are religious, backed by the Catholic Church or another religious organisation and while their religion would be taught, this is not compulsory and some schools have separate religious teachings for student who follow other religions. Regarding English, some private schools offer a bilingual program, which enables the students to acquire a good level of English, with native-English-speaking teachers teaching some of the lessons. Here is an important article that outlines the importance of children developing a lifelong love of learning.
State or Government Schools
These are schools that are managed by the Ministry of Education and in many countries, class sizes are high, sometimes as many as 55 students are in a single class, which doesn’t give the teacher much of an opportunity to give individual attention. Typically, government schools are not blessed with a lot of resources and state schools are regarded as offering a basic education, which is aimed at the working class. For students in a non-English-speaking country, it is very difficult to develop a command of the English language, as the language of instruction is the student’s mother language.
Click here for government information about the UK National Curriculum, which is used at most international schools.
The importance of IT integration cannot be overstated, as we move into a digital age, it is essential that the students have a high level of IT competency, as this will empower the students and enable them to enjoy a successful career.
