Viewing an Overseas Assignment as an Educational Opportunity
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Each year, thousands of expatriates relocate overseas for work assignments. While the trend is showing an increase in singles and married spouses without children, about half of the expatriate population has school-aged children. For these expatriates, the most important factor in their undertaking a foreign assignment is education for their children and this one factor often determines where and when they go, and the length of their stay. This is why international schools throughout the world are so important. Choosing the right school for a child will help him or her make a healthy transition, not only to a new school, but a new environment. |
International schools are created to accommodate students of all age groups and cultures. In most of the developed countries, British, American, French and Asian international schools are just a few of the options a parent will have. Schools representative of most cultures can be found in any country offering instruction in all the respective languages.
Luke O'Neill is president of the Henderson International School, Nevada, a member of the Meritas Family of Schools. He explains that their students are instructed primarily in English, but they are able to study a second language, which at the Henderson school includes Latin and Spanish.
In other English-speaking countries such as Australia, British and American expatriates often send their children to public schools, as they are highly regarded and offer the expatriate child a chance to interact with local children on a daily basis and truly experience the local culture.
However, in other countries, unless the child speaks the local language, expatriates usually send their children to well-established international schools in the area.
Betty Moore, director of another Meritas member, The Village School in Houston, Texas, says she has over 50 countries represented in her student body and says "the children love coming in and meeting new friends." Of the 750 students enrolled, approximately 20 percent have attended international schools outside the United States.
Most international schools offer an American or British curriculum, but there are some that teach based on the International Baccalaureate curriculum. Local language instruction is common in almost all international schools regardless of the type of curriculum offered.
Thanks to advanced technology, almost all international schools have websites where parents can find information about various schools.
Another advantage of attending an international school comes when the student leaves. The Henderson family of schools, for example, can boast that 100 percent of their graduates go on to attend four-year colleges--including some who have attended Ivy League colleges.
The educational foundation provided at these types of schools creates a relatively direct route to success in adulthood.
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