Choosing the right school for your child is one of the hardest decisions you will make as a parent, whether you are an expatriate residing in Malaysia or a Malaysian with plans to move overseas.

You will probably have questions such as:

• Do I choose an international school or a local school?
• Which international school system is best?
• Will there be a language barrier for my child if I choose a local school?
• What about my child’s future schooling? What will happen if I were to be re-assigned to my home country or a different country?

It becomes even more challenging when you add your child’s individual needs and personality into the mix. There is no “one size fits all” option.

Each child is different and each international school system is different, even within Malaysia. It is easy to get stressed out, so, take a deep breath and take a good look at the types of education available in Malaysia.

Expatriates in Malaysia

The country offers a wide range of schools, from public and private schools to international schools with varying curriculums.

If you are planning to be in the country for only a short period of time, it is advisable to send your child to an international school.

The curriculums of Malaysian public and private schools are not, or rarely, recognised abroad. International schools have a range of curriculums that are recognised by most schools and universities globally.

If you plan to return to your home country or if your stint in Malaysia is fairly short, it would be best to find an international school that offers your home country’s curriculum. Maintaining the same curriculum will help your child cope better, as they will be familiar with the syllabus.

However, if you cannot find a school that offers your home country’s curriculum, opt for an international schooling system that is recognised in your country and has transferrable credits when you move back home.

Malaysians planning to move overseas

This advice is for Malaysian parents with plans to move abroad, as well as families who are constantly moving from one country to another because of their jobs.

First, you would want to find a curriculum that is transferable so when you do relocate to a different country, your child would be easily accepted by schools that offer the same curriculum.

The internationally recognised curriculums offered at international schools in Malaysia include British (IGCSE and A-Levels), the International Baccalaureate (IB) as well as the American and Australian curriculums.

These are internationally recognised, making it easier for your child to be accepted into schools and for them to adapt and cope with their studies.

Apart from transferrable curriculums, there are also schools in Malaysia that have branches all over the world. These schools come under Nord Anglia Education or the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (Forbisia).

These education groups offer students a quality international education that is recognised worldwide and is easily transferable because Nord Anglia and Forbisia have international schools all over the world (Forbisia focuses on schools in Asia).

In addition, schools that belong to these educational groups offer international curriculums and a global campus, meaning that even if you never move, your child will still be able to connect with and learn from students in other countries through school trips and online challenges and competitions.

At the end of the day, irrespective of whether you are an expatriate parent looking for a school for your child in Malaysia, or a Malaysian with intentions to move overseas, the reasons for enrolling your child in a particular school are the same – everyone wants the best for their child.

You must think ahead and plan accordingly. Do your research and contact potential schools to get more information so you can carefully decide on the best education for your child.

Choosing international and transferrable curriculums, or finding branch schools and institutions under an international education group, will allow your child to hop from school to school without any difficulty, especially if they must do so because of your occupation.

SchoolAdvisor.my provides information on private and international schools, extra-curricular activities as well as other education-related topics in Malaysia.