IB program ? UK - US or Asian style of education ? You have plenty of choice.
Different program, specific majors, extra-curricular activities ?
From a local to international school, the budget and costs can be very different.
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An ... ? Where do you pla to relocate ?
Making a research about which school your child would be the best would for your child, would be the first step in the right direction. International schools are the best for students that come from around the world. International schools make the transfer of expat’s children easy because most of them speak English and also your child would be surrounded by other international students. How can you narrow your list down and ultimately pick the right school for your child? Here are a few steps:
What kind of international school do you want? There are British international schools where learning is in English and a part of the student body and teachers are from the United Kingdom and the UK curricula are followed. There are also International Schools, where learning is also in English but the curricula are not based on the curricula of a single country. The student body and teachers can be from different parts of the world. Do you want your child to go to a British International school or a general one? After that decision is made, you need to know where the schools are located, for example, Most of Vietnam’s international schools are found in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. 59% of its international schools are in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi takes a better part of the remaining percentage.
Research as much as you can on the schools that you have been able to narrow down, check their accreditations. Are they who they say they are? Is what they acclaim true? The internet is the first place to start, does the school have a good information website? The internet is not the only way to check, you can always go around and ask for recommendations, speak to anyone you know who has ties to the country and can recommend a school or have links to a particular school. The internet and word of mouth are the best ways to go about things.
International schools are quite expensive, word around is that the employer of the parents pays for the tuition, but this is not always the case. You can always research on all the schools on your list tuition and then compare prices, this will help you narrow down your list even more. You can discuss with the school on how payments would be made to the school. It is best to settle on a school that sits within your budget.
Do you want your child to integrate and mix his/her new society? Single curriculum international schools appeal to people who plan on returning to their home country because it makes it easier for the child but if your stay is permanent, you should take your child to an international school that offers both cultures, this would help broaden your child’s view of the world and help them understand it better.
"Choosing a school all comes down to preference and personal decision, the guides should help you narrow down your options to the top 2 or even pick the winning school. If the school you pick out doesn’t sit right with you eventually, you can always switch schools, your child will adjust to it. There is no perfect school, but you should always pick out a school that is the best option for your child."