International boarding schools grow in popularity

Statistics show that Vietnamese people have spent about $3 billion on studying abroad, with the majority of students attending boarding schools.

However, the pandemic poses a challenge for many families wishing to send their children to a foreign boarding school. Social distancing, travel restrictions, and high costs have prompted many well-off families in Vietnam to reconsider studying abroad and take a close look at domestic boarding schools.

Nguyen Van Dang, a resident from Hanoi’s Tay Ho district, welcomed his son back home in mid-2021. He said that the number of modern boarding schools and international teaching programmes in Hanoi remains humble and the majority of them are semi-boarding schools. He still wishes to send his child to a boarding school where he will experience living independently in a multicultural environment managed by international teachers.

“I think that boarding from high-school level will make it much easier for my son to go to university,” Dang stated.

According to Mai Thi Le Quyen, enrollment director of TH School System, there is a need for an environment for students to learn life lessons, giving them a foundation of education, knowledge, and good character.

“Boarding schools not only provide a solid foundation of knowledge but also develop the necessary skills to enter a more independent life,” said Quyen – who has been working in the field of international education for nearly 20 years.

“This is the value that a boarding school can bring to students and why many families have invested so much money into their children’s studies in Australia, the UK, and the US.”

The office of TH School has received many questions about its Hoa Lac boarding facility from both Vietnamese families and the ex-pat community in Hanoi and neighbouring provinces.

“This is a positive sign that parents believe in the international education model and modern facilities in the country, especially those provided by educational units belonging to prestigious corporations,” Quyen said.

TH School aims to provide a comprehensive education with an international study programme and high-quality boarding facilities for students.

Vietnamese families not only have a goal for their children to enjoy a modern boarding school environment but also want to see them take part in international study programmes such as A-Levels.

“This is a golden time for international schools in Vietnam to reaffirm their quality and convince high-end customers right in their homeland,” Quyen concluded.

To allow prospective families to experience the boarding model at TH School Hoa Lac, it will organise an open event for families on April 23-24. TH School is located on a spacious and airy campus of nearly 25,000 square metres that is only 30 minutes from the National Convention Centre on the Lang-Hoa Lac expressway.

The event will help parents and students to experience interesting and creative STEM activities, take part in sports competitions, and enjoy high-quality meals.

When attending the event, students will also have an opportunity to receive a scholarship for 100 per cent of their school fees.