Personal touch offers an edge

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One of the major differences between public and private schools is the standard of curriculum and teaching methods.

Private and international schools have figured out the formula for success in classroom lessons – individualised attention.

Given the student population that public schools support nationwide, it makes sense that those who can afford to do so are sending their children to schools with lower teacher-to-student ratio.

According to Amira Azizi, an international school teacher with 16 years of experience in the public sector, these differences form the core of an international education.

“While public schools can have close to 50 students in a class, I only teach 15 or 16 per class at the current international school. It is easier to impart knowledge in small classes as I can spend more time and attention on each student, ensuring they really understand the lessons,” she says.

It goes without saying that parents expect a higher standard of education at international schools – specifically, one that matches the fees they fork out annually.

This expectation naturally extends to those delivering the curriculum, all the way from the administrative board to the teachers in the classroom.

Amira explains that this helps maintain a standard of excellence, saying, “Competition is therefore ongoing between private/ international institutions, as each has to continuously update in terms of tools and teaching to be better than the next.”

Hands-on, together

“At SIS, we have one-on-one sessions with students and their families to understand specific needs and facilitate students’ progress. This is in addition to meet-the-teacher days, parent-teacher interviews, career guidance sessions and more.

“Students who need extra assistance will be given required support by teacher and student mentors,” says Cheng.

All things considered, parents who have made the switch would agree that their children are afforded a new lease on education at private and international schools – and valuable learning is truly something you cannot put a price on.