How to choose a school for your kids when living abroad – Local vs. International School

Pros and cons of enrolling your child in an international school or Danish public school.

First, we want to inform you that generally, if you are planning to stay in Denmark for a longer period, the Danish public school will be the better choice. If you are only staying in Denmark for a shorter period, the international school will probably be the perfect solution. Of course, it is entirely up to you what you choose to be the place for your children to study.

Here are some pros and cons for both possibilities.

One argument that can be made for choosing the Danish public school is that you want to do as the Danes do. Maybe you are thinking that the best way to integrate is to act like a Danish person, and most Danish people are enrolled in a ’folkeskole’.

However, if you choose an international school, it might be easier to make friends at first, because everyone in the school speaks English, contrary to a public school, which could make

things a bit easier in the beginning. Furthermore, making friends in the international school might be easier, as many of the students are used to being ’the new guy’. Moreover, maybe some people would be afraid that they would be left behind in a Danish public school in terms of learning, because of the language barrier.

If you enrol your children in a Danish public school, you will also be able to make some new contacts yourself. However, as a parent, you might be afraid that if you do enrol your children in a school like this, you won’t be able to help with any homework, as it will all be in Danish.

However, it will be more beneficial to choose a Danish public school, if it is a longer stay, until the end of ’folkeskole’, as all students are required to take the Danish tests at the end of the year, even students from the international school. These tests will shape the future of the children, career-wise, as they determine if one is recommended for ’gymnasium’ or technical school. Furthermore, if one decides to go to technical school, it might be difficult if you are a graduate from an international school, as Danish is the teaching language in most technical schools.

Even though it sounds strange, and in a way impossible, try to look at the overall career opportunities that your child can have, or that you want your child to have. This can also be a determining factor in deciding what type of school you will enrol them in. Then again, it depends a lot on the duration of your stay. Fully integrating into a new country can be a huge mountain to climb. Learning the language and connecting with Danish people are probably the easiest ways from A to B.

If you still feel lost in the jungle that is choosing the right type of school for your child, here are the basic information regarding pros and cons in a summarized version.

International school

Pros:

Great for a shorter stay

A steady and easy adjustment period to the new environment

Integration of cultural studies

International Baccalaureate programs

Cons:

Can be expensive

A risk that your kids will be isolated

Not learning the local language properly

Local school

Pros:

Great for a longer stay

Pick up the local language quicker

It is free

Immerse the child into the local culture

Cons:

It may not be as competitive as an international school

The diploma might not be as valuable in some countries

It may not be as easy to make friends at first because of the language barrier

Of course, there are many nuances to these pros and cons, depending on the duration of your stay and the age of your children. At Medicolink we hope that this article has provided you with some valuable information, which will help you make this important choice for your child.