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such as sports, games, music, drama,
dance, journalism…. the list is seemingly
endless. These activities give children
the chance to explore and experience
new areas, and develop as well-rounded
individuals.
If your child has particular interests or
talents, you will probably want to check
to make sure the school you select offers
those activities.
Many schools also provide oppor-
tunities for pupils to become involved
in charitable or community activities,
which can provide meaningful learning
experiences.
Cost
Annual tuition fees at international and
private schools in Malaysia vary widely,
ranging from less than RM5,000 to well
over RM100,000.
Depending on your budget and situa-
tion (some expatriates have their school
fees paid for fully or in part by their
employers), cost may be a major factor
in your choice of school.
Facilities and Security
By and large, international and private
schools in Malaysia possess fantastic
facilities that will enhance your child’s
educational experience. But each school,
of course, has a different physical envi-
ronment and offers different facilities.
You should think about what kinds of
amenities (library, cafeteria, swimming
pool, basketball court, performing arts
studios, etc.) you would like your child’s
school to have. You also probably want
to ensure that the school you choose for
your child provides suitable IT infrastruc-
ture (such as a wireless network and ICT
resource center) and access to modern
technology (such as laptops, tablets and
interactive whiteboards).
Another critical consideration is secu-
rity, and many parents may require their
child’s school to have in place security
measures such as guards and security
cameras.
Boarding
If you are looking to send your child to
boarding school, then you should focus
your search on those institutions that
offer boarding facilities. It is important
to consider which type of arrangement
– full, weekly or flexi-boarding – is most
suitable for you and find out which
schools offer such an arrangement.
STEP 3 – RESEARCH AND LEARN
ABOUT SCHOOLS. IDENTIFY THOSE
THAT MEET YOUR CRITERIA
Once you have determinedwhich of the
above factors are the most important to
you and your child and defined what
type of school you are looking for,
you can start researching the various
international and private schools.
The EducationDestinationMalaysia:
Guide to International & Private Schools
and www.EducationDestinationMa-
laysia.com, contains comprehensive
international school directories. These
are excellent places to begin learning
about what various schools have to
offer.
As you start to narrow down your
options, you will also want to visit the
schools’ websites to learnmore. You can
also try to seek out parents of students
in the schools you are considering –
possibly in online forums or through
community connections – to hear their
experiences and get their opinions.
Ultimately, you shouldmake a short-
list of five to ten schools that meet your
requirements.
STEP 4 – VISIT EACH OF THE
SCHOOLS ON YOUR SHORTLIST
It is imperative that you and your
child take the time to visit each and
every school on your shortlist, to get
an up close and personal look at what
those schools have to offer. Contact the
schools you’re interested in and make
an appointment to visit during regular
school hours. Only by actually going to a
school – speakingwith the principal and
teachers about the school’s core values
and learning methodology, observing
the students in action in the classrooms,
getting a guided tour of the facilities –
can you get a real feel for the school’s
“personality”. Visiting a school is the
best way to learn about it and to decide
if it is the right fit for your child.
STEP 5 – CHOOSE A SCHOOL
Now that you and your child have had
the chance to visit all of the schools
on your shortlist, it’s time to make a
decision. Speak in depth with your
child and get his or her input about the
various schools you are considering.
Ultimately the school must meet
most, if not all, of your needs and re-
quirements and “feel” right – especially
for your child.
Resources for Parents
The Private & International School
Fair (PISF) brings together private and
international schools in one convenient
locationinorderforparentstofindoutmore
about the educational options that these
schools offer.The upcomingPISF fairswill
beheldon8-9November at theMidValley
ExhibitionCentre, KualaLumpur, aswell as
in Johor on4October at theTradersHotel,
PuteriHarbourandinPenangon12October
at the Traders Hotel Penang. Admission is
free. These fairs provide an ideal avenue
for schools to meet with parents, and for
parents to find a suitable school for their
children.
The official publication of PISF, Education
DestinationMalaysia:GuidetoInternational
& Private Schools, is definitive resource
on international and private schools
in Malaysia for both expatriate and
Malaysian parents. This annual 180-page
guidebook showcases the full spectrum
of international and private schools in
Malaysia and empowers parents by
providing themwith the information they
need to make informed decisions about
their children’s education.
For more information, visi t www.
EducationDestinationMalaysia.com and
www.privateinternationalschoolfair.com
Choosing a school for your child is a
critically important decision, one that will
impact the rest of his or her life. Invest the
time and energy necessary to ensure that
you make the right choice for your child
and his or her future.
This article appears in EducationDestina-
tion Malaysia: Guide to International &
Private Schools.
Education