What are the schools in Malaysia like?

"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," remarked one expat living in Kuala Lumpur with children attending International School @ Desa Park City.

"I would suggest that if parents want their children to go to an international school, they should send them to a large, well-established school with an excellent reputation. I would avoid local schools with international departments until they were well-established, with a proven track record. Alternatively, I would suggest considering homeschooling which enables parents to closely monitor their child's learning and builds trust and communication within the family," said one expat in Kuala Lumpur with children at Sri Murni.