placing teens and kids in Indian Schools

tlop

We are hesitating over a move to Punjab because of school concerns for our teens, ages 14 & 16 (which next term places the elder in US grade 11 - British year 12). They have spent the last 3 years at excellent US schools preceded by 5 years at a British international school in Thailand.

I agree with the post that good intl schools cushion frequent transitions (while supplying a diversified student body & faculty, excellent facilities, and an accredited standardized curriculum tweaked to the locale). I believe there are no schools meeting this definition in Punjab (Chandigarh etc), despite marketing.

We are assuming our 7 & 11 year old boys would do fine in a good private Indian school. We aren't sure how to vet the schools, or determine actual use of corporal punishment (a notion mentioned in another thread) and we wonder about competitive admissions.

Regarding private Indian high schools, we've been told:
- they're intensely competitive
- they are narrowly focused on achieving high test scores (a result of population pressure and therefore no music and art to round out AP/IB-type classes...)
- they are too hard/intense for kids coming out of US (which makes me wonder if speaker has ever seen high-achieving students in US staying up to 2:00a.m. finishing homework after playing in a 2 hour orchestra concert that night.....)
- foreign students - even if academically gifted - might not be admitted because they would be too "off" from the curriculum
etc
- there would be good/bad impact on college admissions (and having survived that with our now 20 yr old - anything that makes it easier is worthwhile!)

We're considering all sorts of options but would love to hear comments from anyone who's put expat kids in private Indian schools - the good and the bad - and hints on how to and what to look for

Thanks
Terry

Raghu.Kumar

Hi Terry,

Yes unfortunately there are no good International Schools in Chandigarh and other Private schools compete with one another in making their students score high marks.

Do you want to consider putting them in boarding schools in Delhi. The American Embassy School, The British School and the Pathway School is there. Do go through the below link for more info.

http://www.shambles.net/india/index.htm

If you want to look at other International Schools, click the above link go to home and search Options in Bangalore or hill stations - Kodaikanal or Ooty ( Ootacamund )

Regards, Raghu


Mod Note

Hi Raghu - no need to quote the proceeding post if you're answering it.

__________________
S.Raghu Kumar
sahana_kumar@yahoo.com

mcp

I'm also curious about putting secondary school children in Indian (not international) private schools. I have seen some threads discussing younger children, but have any expats or NRI's put their older children in these private, non-residential schools? I don't question the quality of these institutions, but is too much for kids from a western educational system?

tlop

Thanks, Raghu for that link to Int'l Schools - it's a good site.

Boarding is a possibility, but I'm still attached to the idea of my teens coming home every night.

Is there a good age/grade to enter Secondary school?

Is there an age when it's "too late" because of language or other requirements? (My eldest entered US schools for the last 2 years did fine)

Is it standard for kids to go round to different tutors after school? Is it necessary? How much studying is expected in the better schools?

Thanks for any insight,

Terry

atala

Mod Note

Hi Raghu - no need to quote the proceeding post if you're answering it.[/quote]

preceeding, that is.



To OP I can recommend the Kodai International School. It is organized by some Protestant folks, so would fit the American way of thinking/feeling best.

http://www.kis.in/

Many Americans there, preparing for U.S. colleges. "Cool" climate.