Many prestigious British schools are expanding their operations in Asia, as the market there grows more lucrative
Lyn Khaw travelled from her home in South East Asia to study at a top British school more than 40 years ago.
Nowadays, many affluent parents in Asia send their children to leading British schools that have campuses in the region. Mrs Khaw’s son is getting the same opportunity as she did when she was 15 years old and lived and learned independently. The schools admit students who can pay up to £36,000 ($47,000) a year to study and live there.
As countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam become increasingly interested in private education options, the UK private schools are seeing an increase in demand for its educational services.
EY (global accounting and consultancy firm) expects spending on private education to increase from $60bn in 2012 to over $90bn by 2026. This increase is due in part to the growing demand for British-style education in countries with historical ties with the UK.
One top school in the region, Marlborough, has a presence in Malaysia through its overseas campus. The Khaws say that the Malaysian campus being relatively close to their home in Kuala Lumpur is one of the reasons why they chose to send their 16-year-old son there.
He can easily go home for the holidays, as it is only a three-and-a-half-hour drive or a 50-minute flight from the country’s capital.
The family is spending MYR 200,400 ($47,466; £36,320) a year to send their son to the school. That’s more than five times the average annual wage in Malaysia.
“The hefty price of a British education for her son is worth it for Mrs Khaw, who appreciates the many opportunities that British’s top schools offer,” said Mrs Khaw. “I’m grateful to have had the experience of attending Sherborne Girls in Dorset and am excited my son can also benefit from a British education.”
Gordonstoun, one of Scotland’s most prestigious boarding schools, is also looking to expand its presence in Southeast Asia. The school has branches in 10 countries across Asia – the latest being in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city. In addition to offering a top-notch education, Gordonstoun offers students unique opportunities such as an organic farm and a golf range as well as a lake for water sports.
The school plans to open its first international school in China this year, with the ambition to expand into South East Asia in the coming years.
The late Prince Philip, their three sons – Charles, Andrew and Edward – as well as their daughter Anne’s two children were all educated at Gordonstoun. Gordonstoun’s principal Lisa Kerr told the BBC that this is one of the school’s attractions for families looking for “the best education possible for their child. We welcome children from a variety of South-East Asian countries to our campus, but this option is not available or suitable for everyone.”
Some well-off parents in countries like Cambodia send their children to the Asian outposts of leading British public schools because they believe that these schools will provide their children with English language instruction and other subjects at a high level.
While the education and research standards in Cambodia are catching up with regional peers, there is still a significant distance between Cambodians and those from countries with more developed economies. Many Cambodians aspire to study in world-renowned universities abroad and experience the culture and language of other countries.
Mr Pais (EY’s Asia Pacific private equity leader) said: “There are several attractive characteristics of South East Asia that support the growth of private education – rising affluence, a favourable regulatory environment and limited high-quality supply.”
