Week Six: International Schools and blogs

At www.isvilliage.com/schools/, there was a blog that discussed Thailand International Schools being on a PR blitz. After reading this particular blog, I learned that there are more than 100 International schools through out Thailand that prepare to showcase their capabilities and qualities to parents and businesses in an effort to promote the country's international education market. The event is aimed at attracting more local international students to take up studies within the country and helping Thai trade representatives from Asian countries-China, Vietnam, India, and Combodia to expand business opportunities as well. Thailand has 361 International education institutions nationwide. More than 26,000 International students come to study in Thailand each year, and more than 70,000 students take International programs. Study tools such as software, stationary, textbooks, and games will be on display at the event. At the bottom of the page there is room for viewers to write a response to this blog. I thought this was very interesting because there were so many schools in Thailand and other surrounding countries as well. There were even short blogs on each page that descibed each school, the importance of their programs, and the curriculum which outlines their program for the named particular grades.

At http://www.amjad248.com/, there was a blog where Amjad talked about a educational insistute called The Khartoum International Community School. The cost of attending this particular school is outrageous. Tuition fees for infants and toddlers attending the nursery is $8,000. Tuition fees for 10th and 11th grade is $15,000, and $16,500 for students attending this school in the 12th or 13th grade. These were prices for children to receive a normal education from this particular institution. Other schools with the same International curriculum in the area cost 70% less than this institution. The Khartoum School is owned by one of the leading corporations in Sudan, DALGROUP. Children who study at this institution are children of diplomats, businessmen, and most high ranked employees of the DALGROUP. Many students responded to Amjad's blogs by dicussing these "ridiculous" prices and how they felt about receiving an education from this institution.

At www.billkralovec.com/category/international-school-of-belgrade/ , Bill's blog discusses how a construction project manager and the school director is working to expand the school. The size of the high school building is being doubled, a new computer lab was added, and several storage areas were added to the ground floor. The former computer lab was converted into a library, and Bill's office was moved to the center where a normal principal's office should be. The Science laboratory was also improved. The 1st floor is now the core area for student learning. New Mathematics, Humanities, and Language classrooms were built on this particular floor. The hallways and stairwells were enlarged so that students could be provided with more locker space for storing their personal belongings. The 2nd floor has a spectacular new art studio. Bill believes that students will be inspired by expansive views of Southern Forest Valleys of Belgrade. There is a large room that serves as a place for student assemblies and teacher meetings. Bill strongly believes that the new changes will definitely improve student learning. On this particular blogspot page, Bill also discussed Staff Developments, Administrative Retreats, and others things that the staff of this school did together as a group.