Despite continued uncertainty about how the global economic crisis will affect enrolment at local international schools this autumn, current trends in expatriate relocations offer reason for optimism.
“There still appears to be a constant flow of expats being relocated to Budapest compared to last year,” says Lena Sarnblom, relocation coordinator for Move One Relocations. “But April and May have also been busy with departure services and we have been informed that this will continue to rise.”
Ingrid Lamblin, branch manager at AGS Budapest Worldwide Movers, confirms that AGS is also seeing an increase in expatriate departures, and she says that “incoming expatriates are more often single people with less belongings, or couples without children, or whose children are already grown.”
But János Prihoda, general manager of Inter Relocation Group, says that while he thinks it likely that there will be a decrease in expatriates in manufacturing industries, such as telecommunications and the automotive industry, he has in fact seen an increase in expatriates coming in to work for financial organisations and as consultants.
“Our main clients come from the service centre market,” he says, “and despite the economic situation, the number of expats have grown rather then decreased.”
Move One’s Sarnblom sees a similar trend, at least for the near future.
“It appears that many companies are moving their headquarters, main offices, or service call centres to Budapest,” she says. “In the early stages, expats are being moved to Budapest to assist with the start-up, and the plan is for this to be taken over by local staff in the upcoming years.”
In the meantime, for those families who are relocating to Budapest during this time of economic instability, choosing the right school is perhaps more difficult than ever. Here are five important questions to help parents make the best possible choice:
Question #1: Teacher Quality
What criteria does the school use when hiring and evaluating teachers?
Studies show that the primary factor in how well a student learns is not which school he goes to, but whether or not he has a good teacher. It stands to reason that the “best” school will ultimately be the one that is the most successful at hiring, training, and evaluating teachers.
The best teachers are not necessarily the ones that hold the highest degrees or are paid the highest salaries, although parents should confirm that all teachers have at least earned degrees in education and in the particular subject area being taught. The amount of experience teachers have is also important, but the real question is whether the teachers can inspire their students to love learning.
Unfortunately, it can be very difficult for a parent to determine an individual teacher’s skill, let alone judge the quality of an entire faculty. Parents should ask for a copy of the performance standards teachers are held to at the prospective school, including the criteria and procedures used to hire, train and evaluate teachers, as well as the professional development opportunities available to them. With the high turnover among expatriate students and teachers, it is also important to evaluate how much emphasis a school places on teacher retention.
Question #2: Academic Excellence
What academic standards are students expected to meet and how does the school assess learning outcomes?
One of the most important and difficult tasks for parents is to evaluate a school’s academic standards and judge a school’s overall performance in meeting them. It can be useful to compare the grade-level curricula at the schools under consideration, as well as the diploma requirements, to determine a school’s academic rigor.
Depending on the school, the courses of study offered may be dictated by a national system, but most international schools enjoy a great deal of flexibility in designing their curriculum.
The international schools in Budapest offer many options, including the British, French, German, and Hungarian national curricula, as well as the International Baccalaureate (IB). Although the United States does not have a national curriculum (each U.S. state sets its own standards), several schools in Budapest offer the American diploma and deliver a “global” curriculum based on standards of best practice in the United States.
In most countries, a government ministry of education certifies that a school’s services and operations meet a required quality standard. In the United States, and in many international schools worldwide, private, non-profit membership associations, such as the Council of International Schools, certify educational accreditation of private schools. Parents should ask for copies of the school’s most recent accreditation reports to help determine the school’s strengths and weaknesses.
Parents should also ask about the schools’ homework policy and assessment procedures, especially the type of classroom assessments used. It is also informative to ask each school what their philosophy is on standardised testing and which tests they administer to students, at which grade levels, and why.
Question #3: Philosophy Matters
What teaching methodology does the school use?
The word “curriculum” is often confused with the related concept of educational methodology or philosophy. European educational philosophy has historically championed a content-based approach to education, meaning the student is taught facts, rote memorisation is encouraged, and students are measured by what they know. Sports and the arts are not emphasised within the curriculum and extra-curricular activities are limited.
The American methodology, on the other hand, concentrates on the acquisition of skills and concepts, rather than facts. The students are taught according to “inquiry-based” methods, which emphasise the development of inquiry skills and nurture attitudes and habits of mind that will enable individuals to engage in lifelong learning. Students are measured by what they can do, as well as what they know, but the memorisation of facts is not emphasised. In addition, the American methodology focuses on educating the “whole child,” so sports, the arts, and extracurricular activities are therefore valued and promoted. The British system also embraces holism and inquiry-based learning.
Question #4: The Bottom Line
How is the school funded and how has the current economic crisis affected the school’s budget?
Tuition rates vary widely, and so it is important for parents to understand how a school is funded when comparing costs. Is the school a not-for-profit foundation, or a for-profit business? Does the school receive government funding for any of its expenses, such as faculty salaries and benefits (the highest proportion of a school’s expenses)? How is that funding related to the school’s mission?
It is also wise to understand how the school is governed. Who bears the responsibility of ensuring the school’s financial security? Is the school independently audited? What is the average annual tuition increase? Does the school have a contingency fund? Ask to see a copy of the school’s balance sheet.
In education, the students should be the “bottom line.” Healthy finances and transparent decision-making will ensure that a school remains focused on what is in the best interest of its students and families.
Question #5: Standing Out
What makes the school different from other schools?
Responsible educators do not consider other schools in their market as competitors or rivals. They want parents to find the right school for their children and they will help them do this by clearly differentiating what services they offer and how they can best fulfill each family’s needs.
A school’s mission statement can tell you a lot about what a school values and what its priorities are. If the school has a Strategic Plan, take the time to read it and use it as a source for more specific questions about the school’s programs and goals, and about the school community. Ask for names of parent contacts for additional feedback.
In the end, the quality of a child’s school experience directly relates to the learning environment, especially to the quality of people and ideas the child comes in contact with every day. Make sure that the school you choose sets high standards and makes student learning the central focus of everything it does.
