Sometimes it feels like we are working in an international school with the worst technology available. Looking around, teachers only see laptop computers and iPads that are so outdated that their battery life is almost non-existent. These schools might also have interactive whiteboards that are not so “interactive” anymore, and staff just use them as overhead projectors instead.
Some international schools even have teachers who are scared of technology. They think they can’t or don’t need to use it; depending on the staff they work with to “take over” when a certain technology is needed for a lesson.
It is not fun being demotivated by technology that depresses you, confuses you, or just plain doesn’t work.
On the flip side, many of us are working at international schools that are well-resourced with the latest technologies. Everywhere a teacher looks, there are new technologies popping up around the school. Maybe there’s a teacher down the hallway who is using a new App and having success, thus inspiring and prompting the other teachers to quickly get that app on their devices as well. Exciting times!
These “technology-friendly” schools typically have an inspiring group of ICT teaching professionals on hand who are making sure the technologies are being used (and used effectively, for that matter). The ICT teachers educate the students AND the teachers on how to use these technologies in an educational setting. Furthermore, they also collaborate and team-teach classes with classroom teachers during lessons that integrate the use of technology.
Cool technology is great in schools, but there’s a downside. If the technology is not literally in your classroom all the time, it is often not being used to its full potential (meaning the impact it can have on the students’ learning). Having all technologies available in EVERY teacher’s room is just not a reality in most (all?) international schools.
But there are dream stories that do happen. I heard a real story about a private international school situated in the mountains in Switzerland. This school wished to have some new computers, and surprisingly, one of the parents came to school the next day, bringing with her many Mac computers (you can assume they were the latest version as well). There were enough new computers for all the students at the school (the school’s population wasn’t that large by the way). Now that’s a nifty 1:1 programme that the school just adopted!
Not all international schools are so lucky, though, and their teachers are left with years-old technologies to use with their students, with little to no hope of a plan to upgrade everything (I mean it costs thousands of $$$ for schools to even try and stay up-to-date!).
It is also a time-consuming job to keep a school updated with new technology. There needs to be a clever person in charge, and one who has a master plan on how to fund and organize a school’s technology resources. The big question then is which international schools have just gone through an overhaul of their technologies, and which ones are currently at a standstill?!
Luckily, International School Community has a comment topic on our school profile pages related to figuring out what technology an international school has and how they use it, so you can stay as informed as possible. It is called: “Describe the technologies available at the school and how people are/are not using them.“
Our veteran international school teachers have submitted a total of 795 comments in this comment topic (March 2026). Here are a few that have been submitted:
“Classroom PCs and overhead projectors desperately need an upgrade. You get a hand-me-down laptop when you start at the school. When teaching, you have to connect your laptop to the birds’ nest of cords lying on the classroom floor near the teacher’s desk. Chalkdust covers the cords. And yes, the classrooms use chalkboards, similar to the 1970s. There are only a handful of Viewsonic TVs in use in the classroom, not enough to say the classrooms are high tech in any case…” – I-shou International School (Kaohsiung City, Taiwan) – 90 Comments
“The technological setup is usually projectors, with Mac and Apple TV connectivity. Most staff use Macs as a result. These are loaned out for the school year. These are supported by the use of iPads (by learners) and a decent WiFi connection (built-in VPN for Chinese-blocked websites). Some classes have Smart TVs and touch screens, although these are limited due to the impending move to the new campus. There are standard printer facilities available as well, with a direct connection via the WiFi system…” – Utahloy International School (Zengcheng) (Zengcheng, China) – 134 Comments
“You are provided a MacBook or iPad, which version will depend on the grade level and availability. Students from grade 4 and up bring their own device (Apple products are highly suggested). You will at least have a projector in your room, but not necessarily a smartboard…” – American International School in Egypt (Main Campus) (New Cairo City, Egypt) – 76 Comments
“All classrooms are equipped with a desktop PC and an interactive whiteboard. The school Wifi connection is sometimes slow. There is a Primary ICT room as well as 2 Secondary ICT rooms. There are 3 iPADS available for teachers to use. Use of technology has not been a huge focus, and investing in more iPads would be great…” – International School of Seychelles (Victoria, Seychelles) – 53 Comments
International School Enrolment Trends: Are Student Numbers Growing or Declining?
It is a catch-22. If the student population is increasing, then you might have one or more of the following: the maximum number of students (or even a few more) allowed in each classroom, the need to build a new school building (which can take years and a lot of headaches), the school gets more money to pay for teachers and other things, etc…
If the student population is declining, then these things might happen: teachers might be made redundant, the school stops funding certain programs and decreases various budgets, maybe a better education for students as the student-to-teacher ratio might be lower, etc…
But this is the life of an international school, and they should be prepared to adjust to the different waves of their student population.
Many of these waves are caused by outside forces, most recently the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic caused many families to relocate due to lost jobs or many companies to close their sites in the country.
So international school teachers need to be aware of these waves and be prepared when they go up and down.
When you first arrive at the school, there might be a wave of increasing student population. Things are going great. Budgets for teachers are ample and ready to use. PD opportunities off-campus are available for teachers to apply for. And most importantly, teachers are getting paid and on time.
After a few years at this school, the student population could easily be declining, and teachers could be experiencing quite a different situation.
Before taking a job at an international school, it might be a good idea to ask about the predictions of their student population.
Luckily, the International School Community has a comment topic on our school profile pages about student populations. In this comment topic, our members can share their experiences working at various international schools around the world. There are a total of 787 comments (March 2026) that have been submitted by our veteran international school teachers on this specific comment topic (one out of the 73 in total) called – “Is the student population declining, staying the same, or increasing? Give details why.”
Here are a few of those submitted comments:
“Right now, the student population is about the same – a similar number of students are leaving, and a similar number are coming in…”
American International School of Vilnius (Vilnius, Lithuania) – 16 Total Comments
“WIS currently enrolls around 450+ students from over 45 countries. The international and local blend continues to grow, supporting diversity and global perspectives…”
Windhoek International School (Windhoek, Namibia) – 88 Total Comments
“The student population appears to be relatively stable, with a noticeable concentration of students from Chinese, Korean, and Thai backgrounds. Enrollment trends seem to be influenced by regional demographics and the school’s strong appeal to families from these communities…”
International School Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand) – 58 Total Comments
“Between 2023 and 2025, there was an 82% student population increase. This has remained the same this academic year. Boarding was hoped to boost numbers, but this has not worked. The numbers remain at 5. With the current economic and political situation in the country, there is little hope of these numbers (boarding/whole school) increasing. There are 2 other more stable international primary schools in the area, and their fees are cheaper too…”
St Andrews International Primary School (Blantyre, Malawi) – 11 Total Comments
“Student population has decreased further since last year, with many parents sending their rising seniors to a school out of the country for their final senior year. Some have done so with their juniors as well. This is primarily due to the political/military situation and the fear that if the student stayed in Myanmar long enough to graduate, they might not be allowed to leave the country to attend college. While actual conscription is a legitimate fear of the poorer population, having to avoid it/get permission to leave the country is an expensive battle that parents want to avoid…”
Ayeyarwaddy International School (Mandalay, Myanmar) – 161 Total Comments
“The student population at Braeburn Mombasa International School is steadily increasing. This growth is driven by the introduction and expansion of the BTEC programme and the Sixth Form, which have attracted more students seeking diverse academic and vocational pathways. Additionally, the school’s reputation for high-quality international education, strong academic outcomes, and holistic co-curricular programmes continues to draw both local and expatriate families. This upward trend reflects the school’s ongoing commitment to inclusive learning and innovation, in line with the broader Braeburn Group’s vision of providing world-class education across East Africa….”
Braeburn Mombasa International School (Mombasa, Kenya) – 31 Total Comments