One of the main concerns of parents whose job involve regular transfers is their child’s education. While on the one hand many parents may feel that consistent education in one institute contributes to better overall growth, several others don’t. For some, regular job transfers may interfere with the aim of having one good institute for the child to be taught in throughout their formative years.
There are several advantages to being educated across different cities (in some cases countries) and schools. Children from families that are always “on the move” are usually more adaptable, open to change, like interacting and meeting new people because their ever changing destinations have contributed to these traits.
On the other hand, children who are raised in one city / educated in one school might tend to have more reservations, though one cannot and should not generalise.
Army officer’s children, Central Government employees, diplomats on International missions are usually the ones who have to constantly change cities due to transfers.
So what can a parent who falls in this category keep in mind when educating their child?
-Try to shift the child within the same board
Making a shift from a state board to a national board or vice versa is more challenging. But if the child is put in a different school that is affiliated to the same board he was previously in, things are much easier. The same syllabus or teaching styles will make the shift easier.
In these cases, most parents choose to admit their child in CBSE schools or the local Kendriya Vidyalaya except a handful few who choose local convents for a different kind of education. This works for parents who get transferred within India for instance.
For those parents who get international transfers, things can get a little more challenging. In these cases, it might make sense to begin by admitting the child in an IB / International school if in India so that it is easier to cope when abroad.
-Boarding schools are a good option for older children
If your child is already a teenager, having him study in a boarding school might be a good idea. Not a lot of parents are comfortable with the idea of sending a young child away for an education but the good part of a boarding school education is that the child learns to be less dependent at a younger age.
-Assess the school by its teachers and past grading
If you are a picky parent, it might make sense to personally assess the school by the way the teachers interact with you, their experience levels and basic qualifications. You can even ask local associates from the same company that has transferred you to the new city for some inputs on how a certain school is before finalising admissions.
-Leaving norms
The great part about admitting your child in a same board school is that it is easier to transfer him / her when the time comes. However, it is important to understand the norms the particular school follows for students wanting to leave in the middle of the academic year. Some schools would prefer that the year ends to initiate the transfer process.
The good thing about local Army Public Schools that follow CBSE board systems is that they allow transfer of students from one school to another even if in a different city mid-session too.
Changing schools for a child can be unnerving. From the point of view of children who have had to face the situation often while growing up, many wished that they could have stayed in one place “just a little longer”. However, if you are on a transferrable job or mission and if this demands that the family relocate with you, one of the best ways to make the move as comfortable as possible is by allowing the child to have a settled schooling in a familiar environment.
Have more thoughts on what to keep in mind when shifting your child’s school due to a transfer? Let us know!