Hi,

I've been living in Kunming for several years. Now a friend of mine wants to come here as well, taking his wife and children with him. We're trying to find out about schools for his children. One will be 3 years old and the other 10 years when they arrive. The youngest one could probably attend a normal Chinese kindergarten, since he doesn't talk yet anyway. The daughter doesn't speak English very well, so that might be a problem.
Does anyone have (non-asian) children attending international schools here? What's your experience with this? What are the tuition costs and such? I'd be very pleased if anyone could help me out with this one.

Hello,

We are a Dutch family living in kunming since August this year.

Our children attend the American International School. There is a link to the KIA website on the left of this page.

Further they started a new int. school in the north, based on the English system. Unfortunately I don't know much about it. But maybe other people will react on this.

It is not easy for children to find there way here, looking for sport clubs, music etc. takes some time and effort.

Good luck

Thank you very much for the information. I hear KIA is quite expensive though. Do you know if there are any other international schools with more affordable tuition fees?
I also wonder if there's anybody else in Kunming who has children attending school here who don't speak Chinese and only a little bit of English?

Yes, I was also considering the KIA school for my son, but got a real shock when I saw their fees. Unfortunately the government here has decided to take a page out of their book and has just recently introduced an extra charge for all children in chinese schools holding a foreign passport. This can vary from 10,000.00 - 30,000.00 RMB/anum.

I know KIA seems expensive, but if you research other international schools in China it is less than half the price. It also less than most private schools in the US. They also offer an English language development program for kids whose first language is not English. They do have many expenses to pay out of the tuition.

Kunming KIA being cheaper than places like Shanghai can hardly be a surprise to anyone. The lower cost of living is one of the main drawcards for foreigners choosing to study/live here. Once you factor in KIA's significantly lower overheads I think you'll find they are still doing very well. Personally I think that parents are better off putting their children through the government primary school system here, where they teach the basics - mathematics, language, good study habits, etc. - better than schools in the West and then putting the money that they have saved towards sending their children to a school in an english speaking country for high school onwards, where they'll not only pick up the language more fluently and quickly, but also get the strengths of the Western schools - critical thinking, economics, worldwide recognition of there qualifications, etc.

Atomic I don't know where you get all your info about the low overhead. When there is a building and utilities, books and supplies shipped from America, Chinese staff, and certified Western teachers to pay for what do you expect them to charge. Do you think the teachers should leave their home country and come to China to teach your children for free so you don't have to pay for it. It seems as if you want a quality education for nothing. You act as if you shouldn't have to pay for Chinese school either. Why should they use their resources and educate Western children for nothing. A quality education is not cheap and if you value it very much you would see that.

In the past If you worked for a NGO or you had the right background but low income you could apply for a LARGE discount for KIA, I guess this is something to do with the 'belief' that KIA was set up initially to help the large number of foreign missionary families here. Not sure if this discount is still available but I think it is.

Compared to most international schools in China KIA is about 40% of the normal rip off price, and then after the NGO discount,,,its dirt cheap. If you don't want your kids in a local Chinese school (which is still MUCH cheaper than KIA even if Laowai kids have to pay 10-20K,,,remember to bargain, you should be able to get the fees to 10K,, ) then your only options are KIA or home schooling.

Seahorse62: I can only suggest you reread my posting, at no point did I say anything about what Western teachers should expect, should they decide to come to this country. Nor did I say that I shouldn't have to pay for my children's education.

I draw my information from my wife and I having run businesses in Shanghai, Hainan and Kunming, as well as having worked for a time in an english language school. Also we still have extensive contacts throughout the country and as such are well aware of the significantly lower costs of doing business within Kunming. For profit private schools are, like any business, looking to maximise profit and that means charging as much as you think the market will bear. 50% of what you could charge in say Beijing or Shanghai sounds about right for Kunming.

Both research and common sense tells us that throwing large amounts of cash at any school does not guarantee a quality education. At the end of the day you want your children to be well rounded, confident individuals. This means being involved in the wider world and mixing with all levels of society. Expensive private schools only guarantee children who will grow up with an exaggerated sense of entitlement, children who'll often go on to have a lot of emotional issues when the bubble wrap eventually comes off.

Might I suggest in future seahorse62, that instead of making personal attacks against other members of this forum, you stick to putting forward substantive arguments that actually support your position.

hi i am an indian fom bangalore planning to shift with family to kunmming for 2 - 3 yrs. want to get my wife and two sone 7 yrs and 2.5 yrs old boys. Could anyone help me find an english medium school for grade 2, private teaching group also would be fine. I have seen the KIA and is not a faesibel choice for me
my mail id. drnk@rediffmail.com