High demand drives massive growth of international education in Asia
During the 20th century international schools were reserved solely for children of expat families, diplomats, politicians and society’s elite. Since the turn of the millennia, that has changed and the prolific growth of international schools in East Asia and Southeast Asia has been driven by demand from middle class Asian families.
The factors driving the demand of international education vary from nation to nation but there are two underlying factors; the growing aspirations of the rising middle-classes and the perceived inadequacies of national education systems.
Nicholas Brummitt, chairman of The International School Consultancy (ISC), the leading provider of data and market intelligence for the international schools market, explains that, “Most demand for places at international schools in Asia comes from local families who want a high quality, English-medium education for their children so that they can achieve a place at a respected English-medium university. As incomes rise, and as more English-medium international schools establish and become accessible, so such an option becomes a possibility for an increasing number of local families.”
