By George Bita
Although international schools based in Africa are very expensive, one wonders whether the situation is any better on other continents.
According to research done by the International Schools Database for 2021, four countries monopolise the list of the top 10 most expensive cities as far as international schooling is concerned worldwide.
For the first time since the probe team started gathering data on international schools in 2019, the UK has made it to the list, which also features USA, China and Switzerland.
It is worth noting that these countries are known for their high cost of living, especially in the cities cited in the top 10. These include New York, San Francisco, London, Zurich, Beijing and Shanghai.
European Expenses
From records at the database, Europe becomes the second least expensive after Africa in terms of international schooling.
Andrea Robledillo, a researcher with International schools database, says European cities fall under both categories of most expensive and world’s cheapest for international education.
He adds that this duo feature enables these cities to end up with the region’s wide variety of schooling prices.
“Switzerland and the UK occupy the top of the list. New entrant, Brussels (in Belgium), comes in 16th place,” he says.
For Geneva (Switzerland), the range of payments is $16,313 (sh57m) to $30,415(sh106.4m), while London (United Kingdom) ranges from $4,126 (sh14.4m) to $38,782 (sh135.7m).
According to Robledillo, Copenhagen (in Denmark) and Spain offer the best value in Europe as they have the cheapest city prices for international education.
Data shows that in Paris (France), the maximum cost is $35,797 (sh125m). However, in Madrid (Spain), it is $15,839 (sh55m), while in Copenhagen the cost is $20,121(sh70m).
The data only took into consideration the tuition payments made annually minus admission, application and other such fees.
Asian Status
The research info suggests Asia is the most expensive region for international education. Out of the 23 Asian cities sampled, 16 lie within the top half of price rankings, with four in the top 10 like China.
In Beijing and Shangai cities of China, the maximum payment for international schooling is at $41,409 (sh145m) and $44, 886 (sh157m), respectively. The highest cost goes to $50,117(sh175m) in Guangzhou city.
However, in Manila (Philippines), the lowest one can pay is $2,532 (sh8.8m) and the highest price is $20,711 (sh72.4m).
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the cheapest goes for $1,967 (sh6.8m), while payments at the high-end reach $22,394 (sh78m).
For the Cambodian Capital city of Phom Penh, one can pay between $2,100 (sh7m) and $19, 941(sh69.7m) to access the international educational curriculum. However, in neighbouring Vietnam, the maximum cost goes up to $27,383 (sh95.8m) in Ho Chi Minh city and $28,315 (sh99m) in Hanoi.
In India, the list of the 10 best international schools includes Ecole
Globale International Girls’ School, with a population of 800 students, The Banyan Tree IB World School in Delhi, Pathways School with 1,400 learners, Manav Rachna and The British School, Delhi with 1,200 students.
Others are Dr Pillai Global Academy in Mumbai with 1,000 students, Rustomjee Cambridge International (9,500 children), Ecole Mondiale (1,400 students), Victorious Kids Educares (1,113 children) and Indus International School with 1,200 students.
Dr Vasudevan Pillai, a professor of education with 30 years’ experience, says he established Dr Pillai Global Academy with a vision of nurturing local acts to generate worldwide choices.
He says the learning of these multicultural and multinational children can easily be transferred and fits into other foreign schools, which put these children at a global advantage.
African Alternative
Back to Africa, the study reveals that the costs vary from country to country, with the continent being the cheapest in the world for international education.
According to the annual report, Casablanca city of Morocco, which was the most expensive African city in 2020, has dropped to second position.
“This isn’t generally because of price change. Instead, it arose from a significant drop in the median price,” Robledillo reveals.
Andrea Robledillo, a researcher with International schools database, identifies Nairobi as the most expensive city in Africa, with price ranges for the Kenyan capital ranging from US$1,000 (sh3.5m) to $29,750 (sh104m) per annum.
A wider range of prices exists in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) with costs starting at about $1,800 (sh6.3m) to over$27,220 (sh95m).
“The city of Cape Town in the Republic of South Africa is the cheapest African city in our research for international education in 2021. The maximum a student can pay barely goes beyond $5,000 (sh17.5m) per year,” he discloses.
He argues that whereas international schools in Kampala city, Uganda remained largely unchanged since 2020, the overall ranking changed.
“When Casablanca (Morocco) had a big shift, it affected the ranking. Kampala is now the third most expensive city after rising from fourth position last year,” he says.
Tuition fees paid in a year
- Geneva (Switzerland): $16,313 (sh57m) – $30,415 (sh106.4m)
- London (United Kingdom): $4,126 (sh14.4m) – $38,782 (sh135.7m)
- Paris (France): $35,797 (sh125m)
- Madrid (Spain): $15,839 (sh55m)
- Copenhagen: $20,121 (sh70m)
- Beijing (China): $41,409 (sh145m) maximum
- Shanghai (China): $44,886 (sh157m) maximum
- Guangzhou city: $50,117 (sh175m) maximum
- Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia): $1,967 (sh6.8m) – $22,394 (sh78m)
- Phom Penh (Cambodia): $2,100 (sh7m) – $19,941 (sh69.7m)
- Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam): $27,383 (sh95.8m) maximum
- Hanoi (Vietnam): $28,315 (sh99m) maximum
- Addis Ababa (Ethiopia): $1,800 (sh6.3m) – $27,220 (sh95m)
- Nairobi (Kenya): $1,000 (sh3.5m) – 29,750 (sh104m) per annum
- Cape Town (South Africa): $5,000 (sh17.5m) per year
