Costs and Gains: Schooling Options for Expat Children in China

Costs and Gains: Schooling Options for Expat Children in China
Jan 02, 2012 By Kara Banker , eChinacities.com

Moving abroad can be quite an adventure for the whole family. What doesn't have to be as much of an adventure is figuring out how to ensure that your children get a high level of education in this foreign land. There are several options for schooling in China, and all have their positive and negative aspects.

1) International Schools
Whether you have this option depends a bit on where in China you live, but most larger cities now have at least one international school and some have several to choose from. These schools often have foreign teachers with strong credentials, and are often certified in International Baccalaureate (IB), International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), or another educational program to give students a chance to attend universities in various countries. Strong academics and interaction with other children from around the world are both points solidly in favor of these international schools, but they do come at a high cost.

Tuition fees in smaller cities will be lower, but most international schools charge upwards of 10,000 USD and in the largest cities you'll find most above even 20,000 USD. If your employer is paying for tuition however, an international school is often the best option for a family. For those with an athletic bent, there's an established sports network with international schools in China and Asia in general.

2) Local Schools
This option is often considered when children are younger and can benefit from learning in Chinese. Depending on your area, you may run into the issue of being the first foreigner to put your child into that particular school, but most families who have done it have found it to be a good experience for the child. It is not, however, a long-term solution; at the middle school years, Chinese students are put on a very stringent track to prepare for the test that will ultimately determine their university and future, which isn't a track friendly to expats who will go abroad for university or a job. The Chinese schedule may sometimes have your student going to school on weekends to make up for holidays during the week, and there is still cost involved, though nowhere near the international school prices. Culturally, there can be difficulties for the foreign child as he or she navigates situations the expat parents are unable to foresee and prepare him/her for.

3) Homeschooling
For expats in China, homeschooling offers a lower-cost way to ensure a solid education for your children. For those parents who have the time and discipline to put into it, teaching your own kids offers unique rewards along with its unique challenges. Families can capitalise on their surroundings when studying history and language, and schedule flexibility makes travelling, holidays, and last-minute opportunities quite viable. There are hundreds of websites available to help the beginning homeschooler, and many cities in China now have at least one group of homeschoolers a parent can connect to for support, advice, and socialization (both for child and parent). For older students, many advanced subjects can be taken through online schools, complete with teachers and a virtual classroom full of other students. Online schooling costs more than schooling from your own books, so many families do not go through a whole curriculum this way.

4) Private Teachers
Some families, especially ones with two working parents, may want to hire a private teacher for their children while homeschooling. This is less common but is a great option for those without an employer paying international school tuition. It is more affordable to hire a private teacher for what one year of one students' schooling would cost. It gives parents the chance to determine as much or as little of the curriculum as they'd like; they make the boundaries and ensure that their children get a strong education while not actually doing the educating. The actual cost of hiring a teacher ranges greatly, and there are legal considerations; you probably cannot offer a work visa to your teacher, and taxes can be a complicated issue both in China and in their home country.

The one thing that you don't need to worry about is not having a way to educate your children as an expat in China. Whatever you decide, there are likely other expats doing the same thing, so make the most of your contacts and ask others what they do and why. Your best resource will almost always be the other expats who have already dealt with education decisions in your city.
 

Related links
Soft Landing: 6 Ways to Make Transitioning to China Easier
An Education: How China's System Differs from the West's
Meet the Teachers: 4 Types of Foreign Teachers in China

Warning:The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.

Keywords: Children’s education in China expat children education in China homeschooling in China international schools in China private teachers in China.

1 Comments

All comments are subject to moderation by eChinacities.com staff. Because we wish to encourage healthy and productive dialogue we ask that all comments remain polite, free of profanity or name calling, and relevant to the original post and subsequent discussion. Comments will not be deleted because of the viewpoints they express, only if the mode of expression itself is inappropriate.

nitai

Homeschool

Sep 25, 2016 12:14 Report Abuse