Our new blog series will review the most informed member-submitted comments from a specific month. This article looks at the ones submitted in May 2025.
We ask our members to submit detailed and valuable comments. With these informative comments submitted to our 73 comment topics about each school, ISC is the place to get the information you want fast!
So here is the list for May 2025 that we thought stuck out as the most informative comments:
Information about benefits for teachers with dependents. Describe the childcare in the area.
“Free Tuition for children of teachers. Most teachers of young children will either have a spouse stay home or have a helper that will watch the child while the parents work, or even have a helper with the spouse staying home…”
Recent things that the school has taken on (i.e. new curriculum, specific professional development, etc.).
“ASBGV Hosted the first world mental health conference this past April. We also hosted our WASC visiting team in April as well. This rounded off a fun filled and successful spring for our school…”
Average class size for primary and secondary. Describe any aide support.
“The average class size is 20- 25 students. In preschool there is 1 foreign teacher, 1 Myanmar Lead Teacher, and 2 assistant teachers. In grades 1, there are 2 assistant teachers. In grades 2-5, one assistant teacher per class. In the secondary school at least 2-3 shared assistant…”
Describe their hiring policies and procedures. Share your interview experience. Any hiring restrictions? is there a particular curriculum experience required? How about single parents/number of dependents sponsored?
“The school’s hiring policies are flexible with expatriate teachers. It is open to hiring teaching couples, provided that positions are available for both. IB experience is preferred, especially in the Diploma Programme (DP), and candidates with previous experience in interna…”
Describe the language abilities of students at this school and what is the “common language spoken in the hallways”? Is there one dominant cultural group?
“Students have a strong command of English, as it is a second language for many Hongkongers. In lower grades, they might speak Cantonese or Mandarin among themselves, but English is predominantly used…”
Has the school met your expectations once you started working there?
“No. I felt that the wool was pulled over my eyes. Not the school itself, but the picture they painted around Nairobi, life in Kenya, and benefits. I was sold a much more rosey picture. The school and academics I was given a clear picture…”
What types of accreditation does this school have? When is the accreditation up for renewal? Any religious affiliations?
“The school is owned by a Sikh foundation and was originally set up to serve the Sikh community. There is a gurdwara on site for Sikh students to pray. The school is open to all and Sikh students are a minority…”
Details about the staff housing or the housing allowance. If there is no housing allowance, how much are rent costs and utilities?
“The housing allowance is sufficient, more so for teaching couples. Rents vary widely but Bangkok is certainly not cheap and Electricity, which one needs at most times for aircon has become ridiculously expensive. (Buy fans)…”
What advice can you give on how to set things up like internet, phone, experience dealing with landlord, etc.?
“The school does a great job of helping you set up your cell phone service. In addition, there is a school appointed realtor that is helpful as you find housing and then interact with the landlord. Some landlords include internet in the price of rent, some do not…”
Details about the teaching contract. What important things should prospective teachers know about?
“One important concern is contract stability. While contracts are issued, there have been instances where they were not fully honored—some teachers were unexpectedly let go mid-year, sometimes due to sudden program or subject cuts. This creates a sense of uncertainty, especially d…”
What ISC Members Are Saying: 10 Must-Read Comments from May 2025
Our new blog series will review the most informed member-submitted comments from a specific month. This article looks at the ones submitted in May 2025.
We ask our members to submit detailed and valuable comments. With these informative comments submitted to our 73 comment topics about each school, ISC is the place to get the information you want fast!
So here is the list for May 2025 that we thought stuck out as the most informative comments:
Information about benefits for teachers with dependents. Describe the childcare in the area.
“Free Tuition for children of teachers. Most teachers of young children will either have a spouse stay home or have a helper that will watch the child while the parents work, or even have a helper with the spouse staying home…”
Sekolah Pelita Harapan (61 total comments) in Tangerang, Indonesia
Recent things that the school has taken on (i.e. new curriculum, specific professional development, etc.).
“ASBGV Hosted the first world mental health conference this past April. We also hosted our WASC visiting team in April as well. This rounded off a fun filled and successful spring for our school…”
American School of Bangkok (Green Valley) (48 total comments) in Bangkok, Thailand
Average class size for primary and secondary. Describe any aide support.
“The average class size is 20- 25 students. In preschool there is 1 foreign teacher, 1 Myanmar Lead Teacher, and 2 assistant teachers. In grades 1, there are 2 assistant teachers. In grades 2-5, one assistant teacher per class. In the secondary school at least 2-3 shared assistant…”
Ayeyarwaddy International School (146 total comments) in Mandalay, Myanmar
Describe their hiring policies and procedures. Share your interview experience. Any hiring restrictions? is there a particular curriculum experience required? How about single parents/number of dependents sponsored?
“The school’s hiring policies are flexible with expatriate teachers. It is open to hiring teaching couples, provided that positions are available for both. IB experience is preferred, especially in the Diploma Programme (DP), and candidates with previous experience in interna…”
Colegio Internacional de Caracas (14 total comments) in Caracas, Venezuela
Describe the language abilities of students at this school and what is the “common language spoken in the hallways”? Is there one dominant cultural group?
“Students have a strong command of English, as it is a second language for many Hongkongers. In lower grades, they might speak Cantonese or Mandarin among themselves, but English is predominantly used…”
Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong (SHK) (6 total comments) in Hong Kong
Has the school met your expectations once you started working there?
“No. I felt that the wool was pulled over my eyes. Not the school itself, but the picture they painted around Nairobi, life in Kenya, and benefits. I was sold a much more rosey picture. The school and academics I was given a clear picture…”
International School of Kenya (71 total comments) in Nairobi, Kenya
What types of accreditation does this school have? When is the accreditation up for renewal? Any religious affiliations?
“The school is owned by a Sikh foundation and was originally set up to serve the Sikh community. There is a gurdwara on site for Sikh students to pray. The school is open to all and Sikh students are a minority…”
TSI International School (20 total comments) in Bangkok, Thailand
Details about the staff housing or the housing allowance. If there is no housing allowance, how much are rent costs and utilities?
“The housing allowance is sufficient, more so for teaching couples. Rents vary widely but Bangkok is certainly not cheap and Electricity, which one needs at most times for aircon has become ridiculously expensive. (Buy fans)…”
Regents School Bangkok (97 total comments) in Bangkok, Thailand
What advice can you give on how to set things up like internet, phone, experience dealing with landlord, etc.?
“The school does a great job of helping you set up your cell phone service. In addition, there is a school appointed realtor that is helpful as you find housing and then interact with the landlord. Some landlords include internet in the price of rent, some do not…”
American School of Quito (42 total comments) in Quito, Ecuador
Details about the teaching contract. What important things should prospective teachers know about?
“One important concern is contract stability. While contracts are issued, there have been instances where they were not fully honored—some teachers were unexpectedly let go mid-year, sometimes due to sudden program or subject cuts. This creates a sense of uncertainty, especially d…”
Tsinghua International School (Beijing) (271 total comments) in Beijing, China
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