If you are coming to the Kingdom of Wonder to work and have children of school age then finding the best schools in Cambodia will no doubt be of high importance.
Moving countries is tough enough but throw in the mix of a new school, new culture and new curriculum and it can make adjusting to the change very tricky. So Cambodia Begins at 40 has put together a snapshot of the education system and some of the best schools in Cambodia.
What are the Best International Schools in Cambodia?
Sadly Cambodia has one of the poorest public education systems in Southeast Asia. For quality education for your children you will need to look at enrolling them with one of the various international schools in Cambodia, so called because they provide an internationally certified curriculum, if you want your children to receive any kind of quality education while in Cambodia then these are the schools you should be considering.
Unfortunately like many things in Cambodia not every school using the word “international” is truly an International School. Trusted secondary schools in Cambodia with a good reputations include: Invictus International School of Phnom Penh (ISPP), Northbridge International School Cambodia, French International School, Australian International School of Phnom Penh (AISPP) and the Canadian International School.
If you are looking fro primary education then iCan has a wonderful campus and curriculum. Also ACE for English lessons and Nira for younger children are of a very high standard.
Make sure that you visit all potential schools and take a full tour of their facilities. ISPP and iCan in particular have some of the most modern and impressive facilities – better than most schools in the west.
Multicultural Environment
International Schools not only provide a safe place for your children and the peace of mind that goes with it but they also provide a multicultural learning environment where children get to mix with both local and other children from expat families from all over the world. Also the teaching staff are usually sourced from a very strong global pool of fully qualified and talented professionals.
Depending on where you are from your children may need to sit an English proficiency exam as all classes are generally taught in English. It is advisable to make sure you have any copies of previous report cards or your child’s education history as the school may need these in order to properly place your child in the suitable level.
Many of the International Schools also provide a variety of extracurricular activities and clubs for your children to join which of course will help to encourage those all-important friendships which will make the experience of moving to a foreign country all the more enriching.
Mind you, bear in mind that international schools are not cheap anywhere in the world, and Cambodia is no different, so factor this in when you are considering whether to lead an expat life.
International Schools in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville
Generally the majority of international schools are situated in the capital Phnom Penh but there are a few options outside of the capital, such as International School of Siem Reap.
Also you may need to consider the distance between your home and your children’s school, certainly in Phnom Penh traffic congestion can make the shortest of journeys become a frustrating grind so looking for a home in relative close proximity to your children’s school is advisable. The majority of the international schools in Phnom Penh are located on the outskirts of the city.
Unversities in Cambodia
In recent years there has been an improvement in the quality of university education in Cambodia. The highest ranked universities in Cambodia are Royal University of Phnom Penh, Institute of Technology of Cambodia, and Paññasastra University of Cambodia. However, sadly unlike the schools in Cambodia they still lag behind the level provided in western countries. Most expats choose to send their children to university in the West. It is worthwhle to find out whether your child is deemed as an international student, and if so what fees are incurred in studying back home. You might also consider sending your child to a university in Europe where fees tend to be lower than in the UK.
