Expats

Article courtesy of www.expatfinder.com

Benefits of a Boarding School to a Traditional School

Are you an expat parent who is weighing your options with regard to sending your child to a boarding school or traditional school? Then here are some reasons why boarding school might be a better option…

Better Academics
Recent studies have found that boarding schools provide a curriculum which is more academically challenging. Better still students do not spend most of their time on home assignments like those in traditional schools do. They have more time for sports and extracurricular activities as a result of which they are better team people and capable of adjusting to diverse circumstances.

Primarily because they live away from home and their parents they tend to be more organised and in control of their lives. With their independent streak and flair for group dynamics they go on to do very well for themselves in whatever line of work they choose.

Personal Attention
Most traditional schools have a number of students per class as a result of which it is very difficult for students to get any personal attention from their instructors. Boarding schools have smaller batches of students in each class and those who have different learning abilities can be given quality time and attention by their teachers. Most teachers actually live on campus with the students and meet them at meal time.

Leadership
Most boarding school students have greater opportunities to develop and hone their leadership skills. This set of skills is vital for success in personal and professional life. These skills develop in boarding school students mainly because students lead a more disciplined life and carry out a number of activities uncommon for those in traditional school.

An Opportunity to Network
Boarding schools provide students with the opportunity to network with diverse groups of people. People from different parts of the country come together (be they students or teachers), they interact, live, study and work together. In their future this gives students the opportunity to further linkages with other people across the globe. As such, it opens up a path which leads to a plethora of opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Having said that let us consider the associated costs…

Most companies will pay for the children of expatriates to be educated in their new country. In some cases however there may be a limited choice of foreign language schools. Most companies will take the view that it is unreasonable to expect students following one syllabus to be interrupted by a transfer to another curriculum and as such will assist with the school fees anyway. Though the level of assistance varies it usually is a percentage of basic boarding and tuition expenses subject to a certain annual maximum. Some companies place a financial ceiling on their school fee assistance, while others may have some maximum/minimum age restrictions.

You should check with the school to see what currency works for them for payment of fees. You may need to exchange currency for fees that may not be picked up by the company or for your child’s personal spending. In this case you may need to contact a specialist foreign exchange broker. There are a number of foreign exchange brokers on the market and shopping around before you opt for one is a sensible choice. Always choose a broker who is registered with an Authorized Payment Institution and has certain credentials such as membership of the Financial Service Authority. Seek references from other people using the services of a broker; visit the broker’s office in person before committing to anything.