Choosing the right private school for your child is a significant decision. With a wide range of educational philosophies, extracurricular activities, and tuition rates, it’s crucial to carefully consider your family’s needs and priorities. To help you navigate this process, here are some essential factors to weigh when making your choice.
Key Considerations:
- Educational philosophy: Each private school has a unique approach to teaching and learning. Consider your child’s learning style and interests when evaluating the school’s educational philosophy.
- Academic performance: Research the school’s academic record, including standardized test scores, college matriculation rates, and any notable achievements.
- Available resources: Inquire about the school’s facilities, extracurricular activities, and support services, such as counseling and special education programs.
- Tuition and financial aid: Private school tuition can vary widely. Determine your budget and explore financial aid options before making a decision.
Remember, the right private school will nurture your child’s academic, social, and personal growth. By carefully evaluating these factors and visiting potential schools, you can make an informed decision that best suits your child’s needs and your family’s goals.
Türkiye Fen Liseleri Taban Puanları için sayfamızı takip ediniz.
How to Choose a Private School
Teacher Salaries: After asking about the school fees, make sure to inquire about the teachers’ salaries. These are the individuals responsible for your child’s education all day. Surprisingly, many of them earn less than public school teachers. You can confirm this by asking the teachers themselves; their facial expressions might reveal the truth. Even the most expensive boutique schools sometimes pay ridiculously low salaries, especially to young and trainee teachers. Don’t assume that higher fees mean the best teachers. Often, schools hire the most desperate, albeit high-quality, teachers they can find for the lowest possible wages.
Curriculum: Ask about the curriculum. If the school claims to offer both the Turkish curriculum and the English IGCSE or American AP exams simultaneously, you’re likely dealing with a professional liar. It’s either one or the other; there isn’t enough time to cover both due to significant differences. Somehow, they might have managed to get MEB (Ministry of National Education) approval, but it’s not feasible.
Technology: Don’t fall for the “high-tech” classroom claims. The so-called smart boards often lack necessary software and any issues with them may remain unresolved throughout the year. Even the most dedicated teachers can’t effectively use them without proper support. Some schools might use Turkish courseware from test prep centers, but that’s about it.
Resources: If the foreign textbooks lack digital homework activities or online resources, then the school isn’t genuinely a private institution.
Administration’s Credentials: Examine the resumes of the principal and their assistants. So many schools are opening that it’s hard to keep up with rapid career advancements. There are instances where someone becomes a principal in their third year after starting as a PE teacher.
School Founder’s Lifestyle: If the school’s founder or owner is flaunting a huge SUV and a private driver, be cautious. They may be more of a businessman focused on profit rather than education. They might impress you with grand openings featuring live music but will expertly drain your wallet while offering the bare minimum.
First Impressions: If you’re greeted by staff in revealing outfits at the registration office, question the school’s environment and make sure you’re not in a place like Vegas or a casino.
Success Rates: Don’t be fooled by claims of 100% placement success. These figures often include paid transfers to private universities. Ask specifically about top institutions like ODTU (Middle East Technical University) or Boğaziçi University to gauge real success.
Campus Facilities: Avoid schools that lack a proper campus. Education in odd buildings isn’t ideal, and claims about moving to a new campus next year are often false.
Commute: There’s no need to endure long commutes. Enroll your child in a nearby school or consider moving closer. I’m serious—if you can afford it, move. Don’t waste hours in traffic; it’s not worth it.
Student Body: Steer clear of schools known for having many problematic students. However, if your child has issues, such schools might be more accommodating and offer a path to graduation without expulsion.
Language Barriers: Don’t enroll a child who doesn’t speak the language in a school that teaches in a foreign language. The school is just interested in your tuition fees, and your child will end up struggling like they’re listening to lessons in Sanskrit. They can’t follow along without a preparatory year, especially in schools where some students speak the language more fluently than the teachers.
