From the closure of Saigon Pearl School: Are international schools no longer 'hot'?

The fact that a highly regarded 'name' like Saigon Pearl International School closed due to difficulties in recruiting students has raised the question of whether the international school model is entering a 'decline' phase?

A corner of Saigon Pearl International School. This school has just announced that it will close in June 2025 - Photo: Provided by the school

Speaking to Tuoi Tre , independent education expert Bui Khanh Nguyen said that not only Saigon Pearl International School, but also a number of other international schools are facing similar challenges in enrollment, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public schools and international schools are the two segments that have the least "contact" because the parents have very different financial conditions and "taste". With international schools, I think that schools whose recruitment sources depend on the foreign community will have relatively difficult times.

Expert BUI KHANH NGUYEN

The market is changing

* As someone who closely follows the international school model in Ho Chi Minh City, do you feel that this model is gradually losing its appeal to parents, sir?

- To some extent. There are many reasons for this decline in truly "international" schools, that is, schools that teach international curricula and have many international students.

Firstly, these types of schools were greatly affected after the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was a wave of foreign workers leaving Vietnam. They tended to return to their homeland and take jobs that required less time away from their families.

Second, the income and benefits of many foreign workers in Vietnam have also been affected. Large companies and corporations that used to sponsor international school packages for the children of foreign workers and experts in Vietnam have now also cut certain benefits.

In addition, international schools also have difficulty attracting foreign teachers back to Vietnam. These teachers tend to return to their home countries or find countries closer to home, and they will not agree to move far if the salary and benefits packages for them and their families are not attractive.

For local students, that is, Vietnamese students, they tend to switch to bilingual schools more. Many bilingual schools have also moved towards teaching and granting international degrees. That is, Vietnamese students do not necessarily have to go to a completely international school to get an international degree such as IGCSE or A-Level, but can just study at a bilingual school with the cost of about 60%.

When studying bilingually, parents feel more secure, for example about Vietnamese language and culture. Depending on the family's economy, they can choose to "move up" to an international school, or flexibly step back to public schools. Therefore, according to my observation, while many international schools are shrinking, bilingual schools tend to expand in Ho Chi Minh City.

In addition, another formidable "rival" of "traditional" international schools is "online" international schools. With tuition fees that can be only 1/10 of traditional international schools, some online international schools can still teach remotely and grant top degrees such as American and Australian high school diplomas, IB or A-Level diplomas...

Finally, there is the movement of sending children to study abroad early from high school. There are many high schools abroad with facilities and teaching quality much better than the average international school in Vietnam. Therefore, many parents find that sending their children to study abroad early is also a worthwhile choice when compared to the costs of studying at local international schools.

What to note when choosing a school?

* With the current picture, in your opinion, what factors should parents consider when choosing a school for their children, especially those who intend to send their children to international schools?

- I think besides the learning experience, the learning goal will play a decisive role for parents to consider which direction their children should study.

For example, if you have plans for your child to study abroad, choosing a more international school will help your child be well prepared for university study abroad.

In addition, some experienced parents will realize that for some majors, studying domestically or abroad does not make much difference. For example, a student studying business administration in the US compared to students at the Foreign Trade University or the University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City will generally not be too different, especially when they intend to return to Vietnam to work.

As for high-tech industries, if you study abroad, the advantage will be more obvious, when you are exposed to advanced technology and contact with more leading experts. Some countries also prioritize job opportunities for engineering industries, for example in the US, STEM students can stay for 3 years to work, while business or social sciences and humanities can only stay for 1 year.

* When should parents consider the path from international school to university for their children, sir?

- I think it's usually in middle school, if early you can start in grade 6, but on average it will be around grade 9, grade 10. Grade 11, grade 12 is late. It's best to start before grade 9. Parents should learn about the university admission process in some countries.

This process varies, but generally the last four years of high school are crucial to college admission, as students must meet a grade point average (GPA) and a number of graduation exams, standardized tests, and a high school diploma.

* In your opinion, how can state management agencies participate more in the management of international schools to bring more peace of mind to parents?

- In previous cases of private school closures, I observed that the Department of Education and Training also stepped in to support students transferring schools. I appreciate the goodwill of state agencies in supporting private schools to ensure that students' education is not interrupted.

However, I think there are some areas where the regulatory body can do better. One of them is the requirement for transparency of information from schools. For example, there have been scandals in the past regarding financial mobilization packages that collect tuition fees many years in advance.

If such long-term tuition packages are allowed in schools, there needs to be a special management mechanism, such as schools having to send annual financial reports to parents and those reports having to be independently audited to protect participants, while also protecting students' right to stable education.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tu-viec-truong-saigon-pearl-dong-cua-truong-quoc-te-da-het-hot-2025022122395162.htm