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Malaysian parents pinched by rising international school fees

KUALA LUMPUR — As more Malaysian students enroll in international schools, there is a growing demand that the fees remain within reach.

KUALA LUMPUR — As more Malaysian students enroll in international schools, there is a growing demand that the fees remain within reach.

Some schools have chosen to cap their fees, while others have opted for small increases, with parents resorting to more affordable schools in their children’s early years before “upgrading” later to prepare for university entrance.

According to reports, Malaysia has more Malaysian students enrolled in English-medium international schools than international students for the past few years. As of March this year, there are 39,161 Malaysian students enrolled in these schools, compared with just 21,995 foreigners.

There are now 126 international schools in Malaysia, and this figure had been growing at a rate of 19 per cent a year, according to reports. In 2012, the Malaysian government removed the 40 per cent quota for Malaysian enrollment at international schools. In 2013, for the first time, the number of Malaysian students attending international schools surpassed that of international students.

Idrissi, which offers an educational framework based on western curriculum and Islamic values, is one school that has chosen to cap fees throughout primary and secondary school levels. Its annual fees range from RM11,860 (S$3,809) for pre-school to RM19,822 for secondary school, is unlike other schools which have a yearly increase in fees.

Parents these days are not necessarily more affluent, but they have learned to prioritise their children’s education, said Idrissi School chief executive officer Zaliza Alias.

“For many parents, it’s important for their children to be evaluated and measured by international examiners,” she said. This would give them insight into their weaknesses and strengths and how to improve on them, rather than just knowing their grades .

Parents who invest in education, she noted, are “more participative in deciding the learning pathways together with their children, rather than just accepting the norm”. International schools are popular now because parents today look for alternatives in understanding and measuring their children’s capability, other than through the public exams at national schools.

QUALITY OF TEACHING STAFF

The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL), which charges annual tuition fees ranging from RM45,990 to RM93,050, justifies them by the qualifications of its academic staff. “Our school, which is at the top range of fees in the area, is very focused on hiring the best faculty from around the world,” said its strategic development director Charles Davis III. “Many of our faculty hold a masters or even doctorate degree, and remain here at our school for a longer period of time than in many other schools.”

He said annual increases between three and six per cent seemed to be the norm “for schools in our conference around the region”. “We look carefully at fees each year and do our best to mitigate large annual increases.”

He noted that the increased enrolment of Malaysian students in international schools could be an indication of affluence, and that Malaysian parents only wanted to give their children the opportunities that they did not have.

“It is our responsibility, as a school that charges those fees, to be accountable for results and for delivering on that which we promise.

INVESTING IN SUCCESS

Mr Davis felt that it is important that parents invest in the foundational years for a student’s academic success down the road. “When looking for an investment in primary school education,” he noted, “ Parents should find out how a student’s progress is measured and assessed — even for the youngest students.”

Agreeing, Fairview International School (KL Campus) principal Dr Vincent Chian said a child who had received a good foundation in the primary years would be better prepared for future education.

“Early education would enable a child to become a self-regulated learner, where the child is able to determine what he or she wants to learn, has the skills to learn and is able to self-motivate and reflect on his or her learning.

“Eventually, the child will succeed in life no matter which university the child eventually ends up in.”

On school fees, which range from RM20,000 to RM120,000 a year, reflect what the school can offer. “The cheapest school and the most expensive school can offer the same curriculum, but vary in other features like teacher quality, facilities and value-added products,” he said.

HOW PARENTS COPE WITH INCREASING FEES

A parent, Ms Anne Ng, said international school fees for Year One could range from RM8,000 per annum in a more “affordable” school to RM90,000 per annum in a first-tier international school. Fee increases can be unpredictable, she said. “Annual increase fluctuates from zero per cent to 50 per cent per annum.

“Generally, fees increase by five per cent to 10 per cent annually. As parents, we are often caught off-guard when a school raises its fees drastically.

“Hopefully, with the rise in the number of international schools, the law of supply and demand will bring an equilibrium to the international school fees structure.”

Ms Ng said many parents were making cutbacks on spending to provide better education for their children due to the current economic headwind.

“Some parents I know had to move their children to a more affordable international school to allow their children to continue receiving the education they are familiar with.”

INVESTMENT FOR CHILDREN’S FUTURE

A father of two, who only wanted to be known as Sam, said the unregulated fee increase in international schools often left parents at the mercy of the schools.

“My son, now 21, switched from a local curriculum-based private school to an international curriculum-based private school during Form Four and Five (Year 10 and 11).

“We had no option as his school dropped the local curriculum in favour of the international curriculum. We were given a discount in fees during the transitional years.

“My daughter, now 17, spent her entire high school life (Year 7 to 11) in an international curriculum-based private school. He said the schools his children attended increased their fees from time to time.

“We are just ordinary middle-income folks, who want the best education for our children.”

NEW STRAITS TIMES

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