Moving to Africa: Education options for families moving to Africa
For families moving to Africa with children, a quality education is paramount. This means a high-quality international education with the breadth and scope that will allow their children to easily transfer to schools in a different country or continent and apply for admission to competitive universities. I would like to reassure all parents moving to Africa who are still apprehensive about the quality of these schools, that these international schools are generally very good. However, in some cases, parents must be more involved in their children’s education to supplement what schools may not offer. We had good experience with schools like this in Benin and Burkina Faso and our kids came back to the US in elementary and middle school and went to Ivy League schools.
To help families moving to Africa meet the educational needs of their children, I have assessed and organized international schools in Africa into 4 clusters as described below – with the understanding that political instability as seen recently in North Africa or Côte d’Ivoire can affect the status of a country within the different clusters. Additional information about each school as well as support and strategies for moving to Africa can be found at the Moving to Africa visit: International School Options for Families Moving to Africa
For families moving to Africa with children, a quality education is paramount. This means a high-quality international education with the breadth and scope that will allow their children to easily transfer to schools in a different country or continent and apply for admission to competitive universities. I would like to reassure all parents moving to Africa who are still apprehensive about the quality of these schools, that these international schools are generally very good. However, in some cases, parents must be more involved in their children’s education to supplement what schools may not offer. We had good experience with schools like this in Benin and Burkina Faso and our kids came back to the US in elementary and middle school and went to Ivy League schools.
To help families moving to Africa meet the educational needs of their children, I have assessed and organized international schools in Africa into 4 clusters as described below – with the understanding that political instability as seen recently in North Africa or Côte d’Ivoire can affect the status of a country within the different clusters.
Group A countries: Botswana, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa. Group A includes the best schools on the continent. Schools in this group have the breadth, scope and quality of education expected of the best international schools elsewhere. They offer an international curriculum leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma, the French Baccalaureate or the British GCSE – all of which properly prepare graduating students to be competitive for admission to the best universities in the world. Most importantly, the educational programs offered in these schools are highly transferable which makes the schools in this group the perfect or best choice for internationally mobile families who want their children to have a smooth transition from schools to schools abroad and back home. However, it is important to note that these schools are only able to accommodate minor learning disabilities.
Generally, schools in this category have state-of-the-art performance centers, chemistry, and computer labs along with wireless hotspots for easy access to the Internet. Classrooms are equipped with the latest technology, libraries are well stocked and offer ample study space. All of them have good sports complexes (football field, basketball courts – swimming pools) or organize swimming activities with nearby hotels or clubs); They have international extracurricular exchanges with neighboring countries and the cafeteria offers meal plans with opt-out options). Offers various transportation and after-hours care – for an additional fee. Finally, security is very good in these schools.
Group B countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Tunisia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Zambia and Uganda. Group B countries have schools that I consider to be the second best option. Strictly speaking, these schools offer the same quality of education as the schools in Group A. However, they generally tend to be somewhat limited in the range and variety of educational offerings and in the overall quality of facilities and learning technologies. For example, chemistry labs may not offer the same range of opportunities for chemistry tests and exercises; Schools may not have a full sports complex and may not participate in international exchanges. However, the quality of education is excellent and children attending these schools will not face knowledge or skill gaps when transferring to a different international school in Africa or elsewhere. However, families moving or relocating to accelerate the pace of increased peer competition and adjustment issues should be mindful if transferring to larger schools as schools in Group B tend to have smaller enrollments and class sizes.
Group C countries: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Togo and Zimbabwe. Group C consists of schools with relative limitations in scope and width. While the lower classes in this group generally offer a higher quality education, the higher level classes tend to be smaller – and in many cases, use mixed levels and age groups. One obvious advantage is that the classes are smaller and the children get enough personal attention. However, teens can often feel isolated, lonely, and even bored. The only exception is French schools, particularly in former French colonies – because they have large enrollments and are well integrated into the local community. I do not recommend these schools for families with teenagers. Because they are so small and part of the community, parents of children in these schools must also be willing to be involved in or be influenced by the schools’ policies.
Group D countries: Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mauritania, Somalia and Sudan. Group D includes schools located primarily in warring countries and unstable or non-family positions. In many respects, teaching in this group is weak and the management of schools is not immune from the general instability and quality of life in the countries in which they are located. Schools in this group do not always have the best teachers or administrators and this reflects poorly on the quality of teaching. Schools tend to be small, with strict governance controlled by the largest shareholder (usually the US embassy or to a lesser extent a large multinational corporation) which results in a lot of power over administrative and educational decisions.
Schools in this group usually do not have a cafeteria or chemistry labs and use computers or blackboards for educational purposes in a limited way. Libraries are rarely a self-contained complex and have limited space and very few folders.
While these schools may be suitable for young children, children in middle and high schools would be better served if they did not attend. Anyone moving a family with children of middle school or high school age and moving to these countries should consider sending them to boarding schools in Group A or Group B countries.
Additional information about each school as well as support and strategies for moving to Africa can be found by visiting http://www.africanrelocation.com/
