Thread: Do any expat kids go to local schools?

This has kinda been asked here, but do any of you send your kids to a 'local school'? My biggest money worry about moving to Bali is school fees. I have thought about sending my kids to a local school? They are half Indonesian though, so they wont look out of place too much!

But I have no idea about school and what they teach at a local school compared to an "international' school... Obviously their schooling would not be up to scratch if they wanted to move to Oz and go to Uni/get a job etc... but surely they can do a year 12 Tafe course first?

I don't want to home school them....But what is everyone's opinion of the local schools?? Are they really that bad? My husband seems to think the kids would be kidnapped.... hahaha

Originally Posted by rasi

This has kinda been asked here, but do any of you send your kids to a 'local school'? My biggest money worry about moving to Bali is school fees. I have thought about sending my kids to a local school? They are half Indonesian though, so they wont look out of place too much!

But I have no idea about school and what they teach at a local school compared to an "international' school... Obviously their schooling would not be up to scratch if they wanted to move to Oz and go to Uni/get a job etc... but surely they can do a year 12 Tafe course first?

I don't want to home school them....But what is everyone's opinion of the local schools?? Are they really that bad? My husband seems to think the kids would be kidnapped.... hahaha

I fully intend to send mine to a local school. Look around you, the kids haven't turned out that bad, have they?
There is plenty of opportunity for further education here [if needed].

Taman Rama school, runs both International and National programmes. They have a good mix of foreign and local students. Fees are reasonable too. Check out: Taman Mahatma Gandhi Foundation | Taman Rama Schools in Denpasar & Jimbaran Bali

Originally Posted by mat

I fully intend to send mine to a local school. Look around you, the kids haven't turned out that bad, have they?
There is plenty of opportunity for further education here [if needed].

Yes I agree! My husband (obviously) went to school in Java and he is smarter than me!
I guess I will have to look around and see what I can find because there is no way I can afford most of the schools in Bali! But I kind of like the idea of a local school :)

Originally Posted by gilbert de jong

You've hit the nail on the head (sorry to say), but lack of money is the reason why an expat would send their kids to a local school.

as for mat's comment "look around you, they haven't turned out that bad"...
I don't know where you're looking, but we are not looking into the same direction

I was comparing them to the kids from the British schools, [one of the main reasons I want to bring up my children in Bali].
Seems to be too many of them killing each other. The streets are not safe with what the Brits are turning out now. My personal experience of schools and the kids in England also makes me want to educate my kids elsewhere. I see so much violence on the streets even in the small village I am from. Had one teenage death already this year from an unprovoked attack. I went to so called good schools many of them fee paying.

I was wondering if you can teach your children at home? I have met many Balinese who have only spent a few years in the system here and then left [some as young as 11].
Just curious if anyone knows the law on this. I would love to play a big part in the education of my children, I certainly will have the time.