Parent's Review of International School @ Desa Park City in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

What is the name of your child's school? (Please report on one school per survey.)

International School @ Desa Park City

In what town or city is this school located?

Kuala Lumpur

How would you describe this school? (i.e. American, British, International, Local, etc.)

International

What grade levels are represented at this school?

Nursery to Grade 10

How do most children get to school everyday? (bus, train, walk, etc.)

School Bus facilities offered. Plus parents drop their kids to school too. No train connection.

How would you describe the facilities at this school? What extra-curricular activities are available?

Very good facilities. Very nice library. Indoor recreation/sports cum auditorium hall. Separate Music Room. Good extra curricular activities offered for free after school ( e.g. Science club, construction club, Football, Violin, Lego Club, Chess etc etc). Music , PE and swimming part of the days calender. Swimming is at the nearby Desa Park City Club. Calender is full of events such as Traditional Day, International Day Parade, Musicals, Class Assemblies etc. From grade 3 onwards kids get an iPad from school too.

What has this school done to help your child transition from the curriculum in your home country into the curriculum in your new country? Are there programs to prepare your child for repatriation?

The school follows International Primary Curiculum in the early years so for my child coming from other education system it was very easy as its lot of fun and games. Not much homework. Not much writing. Not aware of any programs to prepare the child for repatriation.

How would you describe the social activities available for parents through this school? Are there parent-teacher organizations?

There is very good parent-teacher interaction. Yes there is a parent-teacher organisation. Feedback received from some parents who are part of this organisation is that school tends to be a bit rigid to change and suggestions (especially concerning improvement of the education teaching style)

What advice would you give to someone considering enrolling their child in this school?

Its a great school ! However please read this carefully. This school follows the International Primary Curicullum in the early years. Many dont know what this means and think its the same as normal british cambridge cirriculum and assume that since its "international" it will prepare the child for the "international" life. If your child comes from an A level,American, Singaporean, Korean, Indian or Asian curicullum you would be shocked with the standards. This system is not intensive with homeworks. There arent many texts books. Your child's school bag will be filling with any thing but books. There isnt much writting be it in school or homework at home. There is a lot of learning through play and developing an interest to learning rather then the intensive "learn by heart and repeat like parrot" asian system. Which is all fine if you plan to keep your child in this school from nursery to grade 10. However if you are an expat and would have to move to another country and shift your child after couple of years your child will be in for a very tough change. Many parents of ISP students have enrolled their children in extra classes outside the school for the child to be on the same level as other education system. This is especially for math. A common concern of most expat (especially Asian ) parents is that the school doesnt make their child write enough in the early years, maths is quite elementary (no enough homework given) . The school is addressing this to a certain extent by dividing the children into groups of kids with good math skills and the rest. The ones with good math skills are exposed to a bit higher level math vs the rest. English too is taught in a fun way which is great. But English grammer isnt taught the way it is other systems. Its not at all intensive as you would experience in other systems. With an excellent library and online books through a personalised login for each child via the "bugclub" website, would credit the school for creating a passion in the child towards reading. Great ! but if you have to move your child after 2 years to another system in another country, your child may not be able to clear the entrance test of that school and may have to repeat a year. This is a big concern for many parents. As all international schools in Malaysia charge a huge "non refundable deposit", many are stuck with the school as a change of school would mean paying the "non refundable deposit" again for another school which the expat's company wouldnt cover twice. So please read carefully about "International Primary Curriculum" . It is not the normal Cambridge education ( which for Asians is lower in standard as compared to Asian curriculum. ) This is even lower then that. Great School ! Great Teachers ! Great extra curricular activities ! Great facilities ! but be fully aware what you are going in for as changing to another system in the later years would be difficult for your child.

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