Thread: Do any expat kids go to local schools?

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

Instead of an "international school" your children could go to a national plus school. There are many around. My daughter goes to DCC ( Denpasar Children Centre ) and she likes it a lot. The students are a mix between local and expat children. The facilities are good, like they have a pool and there is security. I can't really judge the classes, as she is in her second year and is my only child. I do know there's a lot of homework ( even for a 7 year old ). The cost are around 10 juta a year, so not too expensive.

I don't know what the laws are now, but 10 years ago, ex-pats and Indos (mixed) weren't allowed to go to local schools. A group of discontent mothers set up their own not-for-profit school in Kerobokan as a result (this is now an international - but still not-for-profit - school called Sunrise School). Now there are national plus schools and international, but most of the national plus schools are just as expensive, if not more than some of the international schools.

Originally Posted by Julesie

I don't know what the laws are now, but 10 years ago, ex-pats and Indos (mixed) weren't allowed to go to local schools. A group of discontent mothers set up their own not-for-profit school in Kerobokan as a result (this is now an international - but still not-for-profit - school called Sunrise School). Now there are national plus schools and international, but most of the national plus schools are just as expensive, if not more than some of the international schools.

ooo.. just remembered seeing some Indo kids at a local school... so I guess it is OK... but I have to agree with DiveGuru on the ROTE learning... Indonesians are great with facts, but they are not taught to question.

Originally Posted by Julesie

Indonesians are great with facts, but they are not taught to question.

I think this is a common failing in many schools - even here in Germany! I'm amazed at how many kids don't question the things they are told!

I home schooled my daughter for two years - for one because of the fees and two because I did not want to live down south. Now she is back in a regular German school but I see a lot of things that are lacking as compared to the home schooling. In just two years my daughter learned to read and write both German and English. She started grade 5 in an American home school curriculum. That says a lot for the German public school system.

My niece goes to a public SD (East Bali) and when I have the time I teach her extra things like reading and writing in English and now starting on reading in German. She is one smart cookie!

So if local school I would suggest extra hour of private studies if the kid is up to it.....

I really, honestly believe that school is to learn HOW to learn (rather than the content) and about social skills. I think the reading, writing and mathematical strategies taught are important foundations, but in the older years (upper primary and secondary school), it is really learning about citizenship, social responsibilities and how to find the answers to problems.
I am actually a teacher, but I honestly believe that kids learn more by experiencing real-life (supported by a curriculum with predictive and reflective learning techniques), than they would in a traditional classroom. Schooling - home or traditional (or any other), is only as good as the teacher and the support provided by home. I know people that move their kids around schools according to the teacher that their kids will be having. It will be interesting to see how those kids turn out.