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and private schools fulfill your require-
ments; continues with researching and
learning more about these schools; and
ultimately ends with the selection of,
application to, and enrollment in your
school of choice. In this article, we take
you step by step through this journey.
STEP 1 – REFLECT ON YOUR CHILD’S
EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND YOUR PRI-
ORITIES AS A PARENT
Ask yourself these three fundamental
questions:
1) Who is my child as a learner?
• Would he or she thrive in a traditional,
teacher-centered structure or a more
enquiry-based learning environment?
• Which curriculumwould best suit him
or her?
• Does he or she have special needs as
a learner and require individualized
attention and support?
• Does he or she have special talents or
interests inside or beyond the class-
room?
2) What are my long-term educa-
tional plans and goals for my child?
• What are the essential skills and
abilities – specific languages, academic
subjects, extracurricular pursuits such
as a sport or performing art, etc. – that
you want your child to acquire?
• Wherewill your child ultimately attend
college or university?
3) What are my requirements and
needs as a parent?
• Which factors – cost, location, school
size, curriculum, facilities, etc. – are
most important to you?
STEP 2 – IDENTIFY THE FACTORS THAT
MATTER TO YOU MOST
Carefully consider each of the various
factors below and then make a list of the
factors that matter most to you and your
child, in order of their importance.
Consider each factor carefully, and jot
down any thoughts youhave about it. Once
you do this, you will be able to define and
visualize which type of school would be
right for your child.
Location
Commuting in Malaysia can be a time-
consuming affair, especially in congested
urban areas such as Kuala Lumpur and
Penang. As a parent, you would probably
prefer to send your child to a school that
is near or easily accessible from where
you are living or working – thereby cutting
down the travel time to and from school
each day.
Overall School Size and Average
Class Size
International schools in Malaysia vary
widely in terms of size from fewer than
100 students to over 2,000 students. Some
children prefer smaller schools, which typi-
cally offer greater intimacy and familiarity
among students and more individualized
instruction from teachers. Other children
favor larger schools, which often provide
more diversity in terms of the composition
of the student population and variety in the
courses and activities they offer.
When it comes to size, it is also im-
portant to look at the average class size
and the corresponding ratio of teachers to
students. If your child has special needs in
the classroom or requires individualized
attention, then a school with a small class
size is probably a better fit for him or her.
Levels of Education Offered
Of course, you will want to make sure
that the school you ultimately select offers
classes for children of your child’s age
and level. Don’t take this for granted, as
some schools only offer certain grade or
year levels.
If you are a local or a long-term expatri-
ate, you may wish to choose a school
that is able to accommodate your child
throughout his or her primary and second-
ary education.
Also be aware that some schools may
not allow students to enroll during the last
two years of their secondary education, in
themidst of intensive, multi-year programs
such as A Levels or the International
Baccalaureate Diploma. If your child is in
this stage of his or her education, check
with your school of choice to make sure
it accepts students at this level before
applying.
History and Accreditation
Some international and private schools
in Malaysia have been established for
over fifty years, while many others have
sprouted up in the last several years.
You may wish to send your child to
one of the older international or private
schools, which often practice time-honored
educational traditions, or to one of the
newer schools.
Whichever you choose, please check
to ensure that the school is properly
registered by the Malaysian Ministry of
Education (MOE) and accredited by an
internationally recognized body such as
the Council of International Schools (CIS)
or theWestern Association of Schools and
Colleges (WASC).
Teachers’ Credentials
You may also want to take the time to find
out about the credentials of the teachers –
whether they have the proper certification
and training in particular programs (such
as the International Baccalaureate or
Advanced Placement programs) or areas
(such as ESL or special needs), or possess
any advanced degrees.
Another factor to consider is whether
the school has a high teacher turnover rate
or is able to retain its staff for a significant
length of time – as this is typically a mark
of quality.
Lastly, depending on your preferences,
you may wish to send your child to a
school with a majority of local teachers or
expatriate teachers or a mixture of both.
Curricula and Programs Offered
In terms of curriculum, the private and in-
ternational schools inMalaysia offer either
national curricula (such as the National
Curriculum of England or the Malaysian
Curriculum) or international curricula
(such as the International Baccalaureate
or International Primary Curriculum).
Parents maywish to send their children
to a school that offers the curriculum of
their home country, or the curriculum of
the country they ultimately envision their
child going to for tertiary education.
It is also necessary to consider which
qualification you would like your child to
possess upon graduating from secondary
school, and ensure that this diploma is
recognized internationally or at least in
the country where he or she plans on
pursuing tertiary studies.
You undoubtedlymay want to research
each school you are considering to ensure
that the core curriculum, other course
offerings, teaching methodology, foreign
language instruction, ESL programs,
standardized tests and student support
services it offers will meet the needs of
your child.
Extra-Curricular Activities
There’s muchmore to school life than just
classroom learning. Each school offers a
different set of extra-curricular activities