The survey results are in, and it seems as if most visitors and members of International School Community who voted are working in a Brand new/Excellent international school building.
We all dream about teaching in the perfect, purpose-built school building, but many of us never get the opportunity. According to our recent survey results though, it appears as if most of us are!
Maybe it is because of working at an international school, I mean many of these schools are run by some of the richest people in the city’s community. Most of these well-off families want their children to attend not just the best school in the city, but possibly the nicest looking as well. If some people with money and good connections in the community want a nice-looking school building for their children, then I am sure they can and will do just that!
Many international schools however find themselves stuck in a converted building, meant for another purpose….not so much for teaching. In those buildings, international school administers and teachers struggle to ‘make-it-work’; somehow managing to educate students in less-than-ideal situations. Even when they try to update something in the building, there are too many extraneous factors that stop them from doing so.
Other international schools start off as someone’s (or a group of people) dream. Not existing before, the new building is constructed to fit that dream. The people in charge can direct how the building looks like and make it the most purpose-built as they can to fit their needs. There are definitely international schools out there just like that, someone’s dream school.
But for the other international schools stuck in a building that is either falling apart or too small to fit the growing needs of the school, getting a new building made for them is a big challenge to say the least. Constructing a new international school building is multi-faceted and very time-consuming. Many factors come into play and the timing has to be perfect. There needs to be the right amount of funding up-front. There needs to be years of planning to take place and support from all stake holders. There also usually needs to be a stable student-body where the student numbers are either growing or holding very tight.
Of course when the stars align, then the lucky international school teachers (and all the other stake holders) get to work and learn in a brand new, excellent school building. I mean who wouldn’t want to work in a new purpose-built international school building?
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Luckily on International School Community, we have a School Information section in the comments and information part of each school’s profile page that discusses the building and campus for each school. It can be important to know more about the school’s building if you are planning on moving across the world to work in it. Is your potential new international school state-of-the-art in its design with the most up to date technology or a building that is falling apart?
The comment topic in the School Information section tab is called:
• Describe the different aspects of the school building and the school grounds. Also, describe the surrounding area around the campus.
Taken from the Vietnam American International School‘s school profile page.
There have been many comments and information submitted in this topic on numerous school profiles on our website; 547 to be exact. Here are just a few:
One International School Community member said about working at MEF International School Istanbul: “The Int’l school is very subservient to the National school in terms of use of facilities and is given a real afterthought treatment by the general management.”
Another member said about working at Yokohama International School: “Space is really expensive in the school area, however, YIS has adequate space for its size. It is somewhat restricted in terms of sports facilities, but uses a nearby field.”
Another member submitted a comment about working at Wells International School (Thailand): “Wells includes three campuses: 2 kindergartens and 1 primary and secondary campus. All three are relatively small, but the facilities are expansive given the land restrictions. The head campus, located on Sukhumvit at On Nut, has over 30 classrooms, an auditorium, three science labs, 2 sports courts and more.”
If you are currently a premium member of International School Community, please take a moment to share what you know about the buliding/campus of the international schools at which you have worked. You can start by logging on here.
Stay tuned for our next survey topic which is to come out in a few days time.
