My kids go to an International School in Colombo. I would have loved to send my daughter to a private all girls’ school here. But, the option was not even open since I am not an old girl in any of the girls schools, I am not Christian/ catholic, I am Hindu and don’t have the right amount of influence in the boards of any of those schools to even try for a place. The fact that they also ask for a huge amount of bribe is another reason which put me off. It is true as much as its not talked about they do ask a huge fees. Yes of course I am ending up paying a thumping amount for the international school which does have its pros and cons.
The one point which pisses me off is friends who have kids attending local schools are very condescending about the fact that my kids are in International Schools. They give their own opinion about how great and creative and talented their kids are and that international school kids just run around partying all the time.( Yes I do agree that the schools do have a fair share of parties). The other point the know it alls make is that the kids are burdened with homework and are not disciplined enough. Mind you these are the same ones who preach that their kids are going to be better off in life because they don’t go to an International school
Although I am ranting about it here, I never open my mouth and tell the characters to shut up and get a life I don’t boast about my kids as much as you do. Last week I had to listen to something in the lines of “oh I am so glad I don’t send my kids to ais/cis/wis because the kids from there are too competitive”. Always it’s been the same story. Every kid is special in their own way so is every school. Discipline and beliefs are something that they learn at home.
So what’s your say about Local Verses International Schools?
14 comments:
Well, Im from one of those private all boys school. Luckily for me, my grandfather had the right contact and I didnt have to pay a thumping amount to get in (Im a half buddhist/half hindu).
As to what I think of 'Internationals'; I think most of the people who go there lack a certain amount of operational knowledge to work in ground reality of SL (strip them off their vehicles and mobiles and they wouldnt know what to do).
On the other hand, they get a good exposure to the international/multi-cultural environment (where as the students of local schools get on with a single mindset).
As for education, I think local private schools and international schools are at the same level; their view of it is very different to that of the students at local govt. schools.
Well that's my two cents :) most of it is how I perceive them ofcourse :)
My kids went to A I S when we were in SL. Of course, being Indian, I would not have been able to put them in local schools, but I was sort questioned abt my choice of school,and told that these schools are only good for athletes and extra activities.I thought it was pretty good, and in fact, my kids miss it a lot. but, I dont know how they compare to local schools.
Well, there are international schools and then there are international schools. Some are better than others - just like any other non-international school I guess. Let's talk about schools like cis, ais, gateway, lyceum, etc. My wife was teaching at a leading international school in Colombo and the natural thing to do was to enroll our daughter there. Certainly their standards (studies, aesthetics and sports) were high. But we opted for a semi-private school for our daughter because of many reasons. And at the time we considered ourselves 'lucky' enough to get her in on the second attempt.
But after 3 years of schooling there, we are now wondering if it was the right thing to do. She has become a little introvert and has lost concentration to a certain extent. And the teachers at her school don’t seem to have the time and energy to spend individual time with them (there are like 30 to 40 children in each of those class-rooms with only one teacher). We decided to wait and see rather than panicking.
So, y’see.. there are always pros and cons. Those people who say “oh I am so glad I don’t send my kids to ais/cis….” seem to be saying it to justify their decision to themselves rather than anything else. So if I were you, I’d completely ignore them. Just keep an eye on your children to ensure they are growing up the way YOU want them to grow up.
Like you said, no matter how great the school is, good influence and a conducive environment at home are vital for a growing child.
The main issue with kids who attend Intl schools is that they seem to lose contact with the local environment.
I have a couple of trainees working with me (ex intl school students) and somehow, they don't fit in very comfortably.
But on the plus side, I guess they would fit in quite well in the foreign community.
I think the only drawback in an international school is they're rubbish at team sports (except basketball, I guess). No chance of your kid getting to play rugby, cricket, or football at a competitive level.
On the other hand, I think the academic stuff is probably a bit better than the private/church schools. And they actually learn how to interact with the opposite sex which we never could. I think I was probably around 18 before I figured out what girls wanted to talk about.
School is an important environment as that finally defines who you are in life.
Honestly I do think that the glory days of being a Royalist, Thomian, LC'rite etc., are long gone.
If the child is clever they develop in any environment. And a lot depends on how much the parents back the child up in achieving an overall education; both academic and social.
My kid was at WIS, after coming here my biggest worry was how she would adapt to a new environment.
However, because she had always attended a mixed sexes school she found it quite easy. This impacts on Sri Lankan parents who want to send their kids to study overseas for higher education.
As for the level of education, I speak only for WIS as my kid went there, everything in the UK is measured in levels. Progress is judged on what level they obtain according to what form they are in.
From inception, my kids always been in the top level and achieves two levels above her target.
I doubt she could have achieved this if she went to one of Colombo's traditional LC, HFC, Visaka...
As for the partying, a lot depends on the parents. Obviously interaction with other cultures and students at international schools in CMB means that the whole social scene is quite non-restrictive.
If you finally want your children too live and work in Sri Lanka, yes international schools will prevent them from meeting students from different socio economic groups and growing up with a good understanding and feel to the 'grassroots' of Sri Lanka.
dhammika
I hope I can give a alternative take on this since Im not that far off from my schooling days and I still have friends in school.
International schools will groom kids for just that: being international. Whereas Local schools will groom kids with a more local orientation. I have seen local school kids successfully take on the "international stage", but i have not seen an "international" schooler successfully integrate into a "local stage" [and by that I dont mean a farming village on the outskirts of Polonnaruwa with no English speakers :) ]
The advantage I see in attending an "international" school is that you tend to be more socially and academically confident where local school kids tend to stick more to their comfort zones. [if this seems conflicting with the above let me explain: Ive seen international schoolers be confident and come forward and be counted, but that didnt necessarily mean they were well recieved or that they had a good understanding of the situ.]
The advantage I see in the local schools is that they mould a better character. Yes its true that most schools have gone past their glory days like Dhammika said, and you do hear only the horror stories of the miscreants, but I always saw a sense of pride, a greater depth of character there which "international" schools didnt seem to have.
Education wise I dont see any real advantage or a proper way of comparing. Each school system teaches in their own way which may or may not be successful for a specific student. I cant say this for sure but to me international school learning seemed more flexible and fluid and whereas local schools were more structured and focused.
Well thats me 2 cents. Feel free to disagree.
Cheers! :)
Well I've been to both a local and International school for almost equal amounts of time and really the two experiences are so different they are hard to compare.
However, to say that kids in local schools are more creative and talented is silly..it may seem so because of the shear number of students in a local school as opposed to an Int school but trust me, even with the difference in numbers, the Int school I went to had some of the most talented academics, artists, musicians and sports people in the country. The student with the best London O'level results in Asia, in 1998 was in my class, the womens swimming captain of Sri Lanka was in my class, there was a guy in the grade above me who I believe played in the symphony orchestra..the list is endless.
Local schools are great as they instill a sense of loyalty to one's school/friends and let you associate with people of a variety of different socio-economic groups but on the same token in an International school you get to associate with people of a variety of different backgrounds/nationalities and of course the opposite sex which is what you have to deal with in real life!
Its would be ideal if one could experience both environments as they can both add value and make a well rounded individual.
Well I've been to both a local and International school for almost equal amounts of time and really the two experiences are so different they are hard to compare.
However, to say that kids in local schools are more creative and talented is silly..it may seem so because of the shear number of students in a local school as opposed to an Int school but trust me, even with the difference in numbers, the Int school I went to had some of the most talented academics, artists, musicians and sports people in the country. The student with the best London O'level results in Asia, in 1my year was in my class, the womens swimming captain of Sri Lanka was in my class, there was a guy in the grade above me who I believe played in the symphony orchestra..the list is endless.
Local schools are great as they instill a sense of loyalty to one's school/friends and let you associate with people of a variety of different socio-economic groups but on the same token in an International school you get to associate with people of a variety of different backgrounds/nationalities and of course the opposite sex which is what you have to deal with in real life!
Its would be ideal if one could experience both environments as they can both add value and make a well rounded individual.
SInce I was abroad most of my life, I couldnt get into a local school as my sinhala knowledge wasn't great... so had to get into an International school...
there were people who said stuff and looked at us in a different way..
then there were times I wished I could've gone to a local school...maybe it was that feeling of wanting to be connected or something...
But at the end of it... a good education... discipline etc are wat matters.. and I'm glad about how things went..:)
Thanks for all the comments If the education system in this country changes (highly unlikely). I would also love to give the kids a chance to experience both as saffron had.
Hi Santhoshi
"If the education system in this country changes (highly unlikely)"
International, they maybe, International schools are part of Sri Lanka's education system, isn't it?
:)
dhammika
ok ok let me correct my sentence. i meant the admission system of local school changes.... :)
Hey Santhoshi,
Here are my comments even though they are rather late in the day
Well when it comes to me I went to a catholic (girls only) local school up to my O/Ls and thereafter I went to an international school for my A/L’s.
I believe that when a child is growing up there should be a certain amount of discipline in their lives coz otherwise they will end up growing up unruly. Irrespective of the school, a child’s upbringing which they get from their home will be vital in forming their character in life.
IMO I think that local school gives child’s a better grounding in life coz there is more discipline and such is good to inculcate a solid value system. Besides, when kids grow up in mixed schools (irrespective of local/international) the chances of them trying to experiment with the logic of the “birds and bees” are graver coz after all kids are quite curious and they will simply consider it the COOL or IN thing to do.
Furthermore, local schools make it a point that kids learn their native language whether it be Sinhala /Tamil. This is good coz after all we being Sri Lankan’s need to know how to communicate in our native languages if we are going in to live in SL.
IMO I believe that it will be ideal for a kid to start off their education in a local school (not mixed) so that they can be disciplined properly and thereafter, move to an international school. I think it’s healthy for a kid to go to an international school as well coz for one they have a more flexible education system and also there is a totally different culture over there when compared to a local school. You get the chance to mingle with people from diverse cultures and of the opposite sex.
I don’t agree with the exorbitant donations (admission fee) local schools ask for when trying to admit a kid into school but at the same time even though international schools don’t ask for huge admission fees the school fees are quite high when compared to the local school fees and most definitely a parent will end up spending much more when sending a kid to an international school than a local school.
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