New Breed Of Genuinely International Schools

Source : The Straits Times, Forum, Sep 19, 2007

I READ the article relating to the 'space crunch at international schools' with great interest (ST, Sept 17).

I am the principal of SJI International, one of only three schools - all with links to eminent Singapore schools - that have the privilege of admitting both foreigners and Singaporeans.

We have a fine school for 12- to 18-year-olds, with outstanding teachers from the international sector.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma is being offered from January next year and having already awarded almost 40 scholarships for this course to Singaporean and regional students, we are currently extending the offer to outstanding expatriates.

People need not necessarily search outside Singapore. They need only look beyond the traditional market leaders in the foreign-school market to an exciting new breed of genuinely international schools that encourages links with the local community rather than expatriate isolation.

Having been head of United World College of South East Asia for 11 years, I am better placed than most to make such a judgment.

Andrew Bennett
Principal
St. Joseph's Institution International