Part 2: More parents are choosing international education in Malaysia
SchoolAdvisor -October 30, 2019 8:30 AM
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Although there are several tiers of international schools in Malaysia based on their fee structure, the fact remains that private and international schools are more expensive than public schools.

Malaysian parents are ready to compromise on their lifestyle and give up on some luxuries to give their children an international education.

Huang Paik Ling first enrolled her three children into a Chinese national school but later decided to move them to an international school instead.

She says, “My children struggled with the medium of teaching as we do not speak the language at home. I also felt the curriculum had a one size fit all approach.”




“The students are taught that there is only one way of problem solving, and that is the teacher’s way. Classes often have up to 45 kids, hence, teachers do not have the time to give personalised attention.”

“As a result, the ones given attention are the ones who excel and ironically, the ones who need more help are neglected.”

The school her children currently attend follow a more modernised method of teaching, where there is a heavy emphasis on values and character building.

“Quality academics is a given hence this is definitely a plus point. Teachers are genuinely caring and don’t mind staying back after school on their own time to coach the weaker students.”


Although she is concerned that her children might grow up feeling privileged and disengaged from the real world after attending an international school, she is more than happy she made the switch.

“I am happy that my children are learning to think as opposed to being spoon fed,” she reasons.

Language is the main reason Zaza Hasny made the switch from public to international school for her children.

She shares, “My boys are better in English than Bahasa Malaysia and this made coping with the local syllabus harder for them.”

“We found an international Islamic school that offers IGCSE curriculum with subjects taught in English, while also having routine Islamic studies. My boys are doing extremely well in this school.”

For Junita, on the other hand, the reason for choosing an international school over a public school was more about giving her children global exposure while striking a balance between academics and extra-curricular activities.

“The uncertainty and rapid changes in our local education system worries me. There should be more emphasis on English because, like it or not, it is a global language.”

“But holding on to my roots is also important so I found an international school that puts emphasis on English but also upholds Asian values, so they are rather strict in terms of discipline.”

“The school my children currently attend also places great value on a good balance of academics and sports which is vital to me. Sport plays a crucial role in instilling good sportsmanship, developing soft skills and learning to play/work as a team which I find very lacking in today’s young generation,” she elaborates.

Private and international schools for holistic education

Education, after all, is not just about academics but also building character, and educating a child takes three: school, parents and the child itself.

The increasing number of international schools is good not only for expatriate parents and children but Malaysian families too.

Local children attending these international schools are being exposed to a diverse curriculum, cultures and languages from a young age, helping them to grow to be true global citizens.

Similarly, private schools can be a great option too although they will probably not have as diverse a classroom as an international school.

Nevertheless, the point to note is that they provide a much-coveted global exposure with a local flavour, meaning your children get to be global citizens, but have their roots firmly in their own country

Rich people problem.

study high high end up jadi grab.
wanna success..it all about connection and social skills...
that y they send them to internation school.

Boley mampu spend 100k per annum per kid then why not lol

Mostly can afford primary school, when move to secondary cannot afford have to sent back to sekolah menengah

Ironically govt still struggle to recognize UEC when more and more ppl already ditch public school in other ways.

First: They are rich
Second: Education in those SJK/SMK only can learn racist.

sacrifice so much for kids
later kids accidents dead left u alone
or kids become midly sucesful and prig abandon u at folks home

Be like Jho Lo! When your BFF is the PM!

It's ironic, during 50s through 60s, our education is top notch UK style. Schools like penang free school, st John etc all international standard, fees also cheap. Nowadays to get same education need to pay top dollar.

What you pay is what you get. I've a kid in SK and that school is even a sekolah cemerlang but the teachers are hardly in class and no mandarin teacher for 3 years now. Whereas my other kid in private school, qualified dedicated teachers and they're even learning coding at Standard 1.

There is 3 type tiers schools, choose what you can afford. I'm only paying around 1.2k monthly school fees.

This post has been edited by kkkw80: Oct 30 2019, 09:42 AM

Primary no need go International School lah. Lots of options nowadays from orang kaya International School (RM50k to RM100k+ a year), to middle class International School(anywhere from RM10k to RM50k) to cheap-cheap Homeschool (<rm10k a year).

My son goes to a middle class International School as well, while my nephew goes to a HomeSchool (already completed his O-LEVEL), now studying in Taylor.

salah BN

protek protek, international school for disrupting unity

owai

everything need money ....... * headache*

can PM which skoll that price?

ok la, learn in english better than malay.

now go stall or kopitiam or mamak, speak malay also the people dun understand coz mostly bangala and nepalese.. end up also just point here and there + some english.

learn english at least easier later in the corporate world. as for malay, know how to read road signs good enough already.

This post has been edited by brkli: Oct 30 2019, 09:46 AM

See, Malaysian salary all /k standard, can afford international school, why gov worry about Malaysia bankrupt

enroll public school also pay extra with multiple subject tuition every month

damn 1.2k monthly rly 20k standard