K-12 international schools no longer cater to the expatriate population alone. Due to better curricula and learning processes, these schools have gained popularity among the local population as well. Increased demand for quality education, with a greater focus on creativity and innovative thinking, are the reasons behind the growith of the K-12 international schools market.
What makes K-12 international schools so popular?
In the next five years, market analysts at Technavio predict that the demand for K-12 schooling will grow at CAGR of 8%. Some of the chief reasons behind this growing popularity, as identified by Clyde & Co. in their recent roundtable meeting, are:
- Internationalization of education
- Focus on competency-based education (CBE)
- Better assessment methods
- Emergence of MNCs as major players
The education system in no longer focused on providing students with basic knowledge. Rather, educationalists and policy makers are dedicated to broadening the curriculum by switching to international curriculums like Edexcel, International Baccalaureate, or Cambridge International. Parents also see the internationalization of curriculum as a stepping stone for higher studies in foreign universities.
In the traditional schooling system, a great deal of mportance is paid to the amount of time students spend on a course. K-12 schooling, on the other hand, puts more emphasis on providing personalized learning experience for students. This form of education aims to bridge the workforce skill gap – something that the traditional schooling system does not address.
Assessment methodology comprises of the means through which the students are examined, which can either be manual or through a computerized process. Every assessment process should be fair, efficient, and cost-effective. K-12 schools by collaborating with testing and assessment companies can easily conduct examinations simultaneously in various geographical locations. This system eliminates the chances of question paper leakage, errors in scores, and delays in the evaluation process. Along with academic knowledge, K-12 schools focus on non-academic assessment of students. They do this by evaluating each students’ psychology and helping them take the proper corrective measures.
Despite its immense popularity, the recent meeting of key stakeholders in the global K-12 sector have identified several challenges that need to be addressed at the earliest. Unexpected changes in regulations is one such major challenge. For instance, recent changes in China’s Private Education Law and the Shanghai Education Commission is sure to impact the international curricula being taught in these regions. Similarly, industry analysts believe that a local partner is necessary for the success of any K-12 school. However, finding the right partner, especially in Africa, is one major challenge that is hindering the growth this education system.
Also, it has been determined that the market for expatriate students is a highly volatile one. For the sustainability of the K-12 schooling system, it is important that the local population is also seen as the target consumer base. For instance: traditional expat markets in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar have witnessed a dip in the number of expats, increasing the need for local students to enroll in K-12 schools. Another critical challenge that several major players in the K-12 schooling market face is that of a shortage of qualified teaching staff.
For an in-depth analysis of the K-12 International Schools Market
Order the 2016-2020 Report on the Global K-12 Testing and Assessment Market
You might also be interested in:
The 2016-2020 Report on the Global Anti-Plagiarism Software Market for the Education Sector
