Sending kids to Public School after International School – been told I can’t.

11 comments

1. I would advise you to consult an expert in the matter. There are some experts advising on international schools which might answer your questions and more.

   That said, as far as I understand, it is half correct half not. Most international schools don’t follow the japanese curriculum, and as such aren’t considered “official education”.

   This mean that when they reach university, if they want to stay in japan, they might be at disadvantage compared to other japanese kids.

   I know personally a japanese family who were sending their kid to international schools. However, they switched back to japanese school from junior high school (I guess at 13 year old?) because they were worried about when she would go to university.

   The kid is kind of bright, she has fluent english and japanese, though her writing might have been a bit weaker than normal kid at the time. She was able to join the Japanese school.

2. Not a professional but pretty sure your child is guaranteed public education until the end of Jr. High. Others will correct me if Im wrong.

3. At least save him from the bullying until Jr. High. When he hits Jr. High age, ask him if he wants to go West for post-secondary, or stay in Super Japan Land. That will factor into his decision whether or not he wants to be dropped off in the JES to finish the last 10 years of his schooling, or shipped abroad for post-secondary years. Although, there are a few of those International Universities here in Japan.

   It’s up to the kid, ask him when he’s old enough, put him in the international school for now.

4. I have seen it happen where a parent pulls their child out of an International school to go to a local school. They have no legal basis to deny compulsory education. Souds like a scare tactic to get people not to try an international school. If you can afford it, and it is an actual iternational school, then go for it.

5. Absolutely nonsense that they won’t be able to attend. They are required to be in school until they complete junior high school. If this were true (no transfers from int’l schools), what about all the children that return from abroad? One of my sons Japanese classmates was born and raised in the US and joined the public school system here at 12 years old. He’s not doing too well – doesn’t “fit in”, despite fluent Japanese. How your own children will fare academically, emotionally, etc., is another matter. If they transfer at a young age, they’ll adjust over time, later on…a lot of variables in play…

6. Rubbish. I’ve done it. Transition was just like any school transfer.

7. not sure where you’re from but I’m pretty sure school is only compulsory for Japanese citizens? i’ve heard of foreign families registering with both and sending their kids to local school while intl school is on holiday etc? Perhaps check “parents of kids in japanese schools” on fb for more info.

8. Have had many students move from international school to public Japanese school. No problems.

9. Okay there are two issues here.

   1. There is a thing where they legally have to enroll in school. Most international schools are not technically schools. They usually fall under the same designation as Jukus, so just sending them there and not public school is breaking the rules. You CAN concurrently enroll them in your local public school and they don’t have to attend. (You send them to international school) but they are still technically enrolled.) if you don’t do this, you are breaking the rules, which means lots of paperwork and accounting for the years you were truant, so it’s better to just enroll and this is a thing people do.

   2. Would your child DO WELL in public school after international school? Probably not. Kanji learning in elementary school is quite intensive and regimented and it is VERY unlikely that an international school would keep up with that by its very nature. Could you get away with 2-3 years? Sure. Could your child decide they want to go to public school in 6th grade and cram all day to catch up? Only if they are really really serious about it. If your child is already bilingual and you read at home and speak English, it’s probably easier (and cheaper!) to start public and move to international school once your child shows interest one way or another.

10. That’s a totally false statement. It’s common knowledge all kids are guaranteed education thru middle school. Maybe you misunderstood and the people you talked to meant it will be hard to adjust so you shouldn’t, not can’t go public school

11. Up here in Sendai I know a lot of people that do international school until elementary grade 5, then put the kids into grade 6 public school so that they will be eligible to go to JHS. Not sure if that is a rule or the parents just trying to make sure their kids know some other children.