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We have to consider many points while choosing between a local and international school, as both options have their pros and cons. In this article, we will examine them and try to advise parents who are still hesitant.
Local Learning: Advantages
Going to a local school helps students better understand local culture and traditions, which makes them more connected with the place where they live. Children at local schools learn the local language, which they are also using during everyday communication. Choosing a local school is also an opportunity to foster life-long relationships, as the students belong to the same community. Last but not least is the price. Attending a local school is free, which makes it much more affordable than any international school.
International Learning: What Are The Advantages?
The most important quality of an international school is its alignment with global standards. This helps students from all around the world prepare for their studies at the most prestigious universities. The curriculum is created based on requirements for A-levels, or International Baccalaureate. Getting ready for moving to another country is also easier because the teachers with international backgrounds can always answer the students’ questions about studying abroad or give them a useful piece of advice. An international school is also sometimes the only possible option for the children of parents moving across different countries.
Another important asset of international schooling is the multicultural environment, which prepares students for collaboration with people from various cultural backgrounds. It also fosters open-mindedness among them. Being able to work together with people from different countries is an asset that is widely appreciated by more and more universities and employers. Attending an educational institution like that comes with a unique opportunity to learn different languages at a very high level. Every pupil takes part in language classes as well as normal classes that are held in a foreign language.
Local School vs. International School: Objectives
When it comes to the drawbacks of local schooling, the most striking drawback is the limited curricular diversity. Global educational programs are usually not offered at the local schools, which makes it much more difficult for students to pursue their educational path outside the country. Class sizes are also larger at public local schools than they are at private educational institutions. Such schools are also limited when it comes to resources, which means poor quality of facilities and worse access to technologies.
Finally, local schools are way less flexible in regard to interdisciplinary learning, which, on the other hand, is greatly valued at universities. The main disadvantage of attending an international school is its price. The tuition fee is not the only spending that the parents should bear in mind, as many extracurricular activities are additionally paid. This can be a barrier that many families are unable to overcome. It can also be hard for a child coming from a local school to adapt to the reality of attending an international school. Some international schools can also create an atmosphere of elitism – the feeling of being better than the others ‒ because of the prestige that they are known for. This is often contradictory to the values that a family tries to teach their children.