Back in the day, students and parents rarely preferred international schools. Now, more than 5 million students study at international schools around the world, a substantial change from past years.

If you’re wondering why this is the case, it’s because international schools have always been good for students. In this article, you can learn about the various reasons why international schools are becoming the preferred choice of parents and students around the world, and why you might prefer it too.

Why were international schools established?

To understand why international schools are now a preferred choice, it’s also necessary to know why international schools were established in the first place.

The first international schools were built for expatriates or those people living in other countries. More often than not, international schools are small then, as the expatriate market isn’t that big.

Expatriates preferred to study at and send their children to international schools due to a variety of reasons such as being unsuited for local education due to language barrier, education quality, and other factors.

How international schools operate today

International schools from their early years are vastly different from how international schools operate today. Nowadays, not just expatriates study at these schools, but locals are also starting to enroll. Furthermore, the business model itself has changed.

Before, the education curriculum of international schools was based on the curriculum of their students’ native countries. Now, international schools typically use the UK and US curricula that both provide a high standard of international education. Furthermore, international schools always look for the best teachers in the field to provide their curriculum for the students.

The change in student demographic

The biggest change that international schools have gone through is probably the rapid change in their student demographic. Before, most international schools were full of expatriates, but now, a considerable part of the student demographic are local students.

This change has mostly been due to the international schools’ shift to using English as a medium, which has enabled them to provide a local heritage and bilingual learning, which is an attractive option for many locals.  Nowadays, most international schools are mostly filled with local students whose families recognize the promise of sending their children to this type of school.

The advantages of going to an international school

In any college or university, you’d find that most students from international schools are doing incredibly well. It’s not all about the quality of education; it’s how education is provided. At international schools, students have a culture based on collaboration, openness, and independence.

Here are some of the advantages enjoyed by students from international schools that help them be more ready for the future:

• International education is recognized all around the world – Not all degrees are accepted by all countries. However, with an international school, you can be sure that wherever in the world your children are, their diplomas will be accepted and recognized, as the international baccalaureate program is accepted everywhere.
• Expert educators – With international schools being home to students of different cultures, they always hire the best teachers capable of providing the kind of education that people have come to expect from international schools. In international schools, teachers have to be adept at providing quality education and understanding and working with all types of students in an international setting.
• High moral values – It’s no secret that students from international schools have high moral values. It’s because these schools focus on promoting these values to their international demographic of students. People, from their youth, should be taught kindness, virtue, and all the values they need to know at a young age, and you can be sure that they can learn those at international schools.
• STEM education – International schools are known for having a high standard for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In the future, STEM learners have potentially promising careers, and international schools will help students have a higher chance of fulfilling that potential.
• A love and understanding of the arts – At international schools, they welcome and encourage a love of the arts. Unlike other types of schools which may not focus as much on the arts, international schools know that students can have a career in the arts, especially when they provide the support and education these students need. Whether it’s visual arts, digital arts, drawing, dance, singing, or any other type of art, your children can explore their passion at international schools.
• Holistic education – Most public and private schools can provide quality education, especially in the sciences. However, if you want your child to develop academically, emotionally, and mentally, international schools are a suitable environment for that. 

With quality teachers and an international demographic of students, students meet other students from different cultures and walks of life, which can be a great thing for them as they can understand that there are different perspectives to life as they take quality education from top teachers at international schools.

The best international school for children’s holistic growth

Whether you’re a local or an expatriate, we all want the best education for our children. With international schools, children can learn in an open, international environment where they can be friends, learn with, play with, and develop themselves with other students.

If you’re looking for an international school where your child can get a quality education, make sure to look for a school like the Bangkok International School with a holistic approach to education and where students of different cultures can attain a high standard of education everyone deserves.

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June 15, 2021