Disadvantages Of Studying In International Schools

International schools have gained significant popularity in the recent decade. There is a huge demand for well-funded, renowned international schools to send kids to. Parents of younger children, especially those at the elementary school level, prefer international schools over local schools for myriad reasons. The lack of representation, linguistic gaps, and locally relevant education are among children’s many problems. And international schools tend to bridge the cultural gap and foster a global environment in a local setting.
But are international schools all glitters? Well, no. Certain shortcomings are also there in sending kids to international schools. In today’s article, we will focus on exploring a few cons of international schools. In case you intend to send your kid to an international school or are confused, the list of cons can give you a good insight.
So, without further ado, here is what you should know.

1. Expensive Institutions 
   The sheer number of facilities that International schools offer makes it quite obvious that parents incur quite a sum as tuition fees. While public schools in many countries are free or cheap in several countries, international schools maintain their separate administration, fee structure, and curriculum.
   The heads of charges in the fee structure include activity fees, transportation, language support fees, examination fees, school development fees, and whatnot. Of course, there are separate tuition fees.
   Now, you must know that the money doesn’t go to waste. International schools provide very high-quality education facilities. For instance, in Greece, elementary wings in several international schools hire international faculty, including specialists in certain subjects. Quality doesn’t come cheap; we all know that.
2. The local language is not preferred 
   Well, it could be a pro and a con for an international school. It all depends on perspectives. If your child doesn’t know the local language, they may find it challenging to adjust to the public school system. Language enables learning and communication, the absence of which can hamper the interests of the child.
   On the other hand, no or minimal support in the local language can create long-term problems. If the parents intend to stay for a long term in the country, then the child will need to assimilate into the culture. Cultural assimilation is integral to his social well-being–and language plays a critical role here.
   International schools adopt more globally relevant languages as their main mode of instruction. The most popular choices are English, French, and German. But, it should be noted that most schools provide local language learning support in some way, but they can come with extra costs.
3. Alienation of the child 
   It is ironic how international schools endeavor to keep students in heterogeneous communities yet often fail to train students in ways of local assimilation. Many students of international schools end up developing a sense of elitism and a differential understanding of the local culture. Either the child struggles to fit in or does not find the local society valuable. Your children may end up with a small or no social circle beyond school.
   That being said, international schools have increasingly begun to enroll local children. In Greece, for example, a sizable student body population in several international schools comprises Greeks. This is so because, unlike before, international schools have become more open in their admission process. So, it is quite possible that your children are not all alienated from the local culture.

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