Parent's Review of Fairview International in Penang, Malaysia

What is the name of your child's school? (Please report on one school per survey.)

Fairview International

In what town or city is this school located?

Penang

How would you describe this school? (i.e. American, British, International, Local, etc.)

Private School

What grade levels are represented at this school?

IGCSE & IB

How do most children get to school everyday? (bus, train, walk, etc.)

Most children enrolled in Fairview International School in Penang are expected to have their own transportation arranged by their parents. The location is not strategic hence prevent the public transport to access the school area. They get to school either by carpooling or chartered van shared by parents. The school do not provide any means of transportation for children to use. That forces outstation parents to place their children in the nearest flat nearby the school to enable them to walk to school.

How would you describe the facilities at this school? What extra-curricular activities are available?

Their school facilities are rated as definitely poor as they do not have any reliable facilities as an additional aid to students. They have a library without good materials for student to refer, a computer lab with old malfunction computers, no extra-curricular activities offered i.e. swimming, physical education which are considered as healthy lifestyle education. They are no other foreign languages offered except Mandarin and Malay but they call themselves as international school. They do not have any students counselor especially for year 10 & 11 to assist them in their college/universities search. No proper boarding facilities for outstation students.

What has this school done to help your child transition from the curriculum in your home country into the curriculum in your new country? Are there programs to prepare your child for repatriation?

The school did not make any effort to understand parents' situation and students' situation. There are no programs to help prepare your child for repatriation. Students are expected to accept the terms and conditions set by the school management.

How would you describe the social activities available for parents through this school? Are there parent-teacher organizations?

If you are dreaming of being part of the parent-teacher organizations, you may continue dreaming on it. Often parents expressed their dissatisfaction on the methodology used by the teachers on grading their students which is not transparent enough to enable other international schools abroad to understand their grading system. Most frustrated parents moved their children to other international school despite the distance in travelling.

What advice would you give to someone considering enrolling their child in this school?

As parents, we have always wanted the best for our children and we will continue searching for the best schools. Unfortunately, I have to admit that Fairview International Schools is not among the best; there are other schools that offer good education and sufficient facilities. For instance,

1)It is difficult to obtain your school deposit due to their school policy and they have always managed to keep the deposits under any circumstances.

2)International languages offered are Bahasa Malaysia (Malay language) and Mandarin. No other foreign languages are offered at the present time.

3)Only 1 foreign teacher is currently hired and teaching in Fairview International School Penang. It is not like any other international schools whereby you find other foreign teachers teaching your children. They employed young inexperienced local teachers to manage students. 4)There are no proper programs for physical education. Most of the time students are left without doing any activities. 5)The exam schedules are not properly planned and communicated among Fairview International School in Kuala Lumpur and Fairview International School Penang. Often students are inadequately informed and left with tremendous pressure facing the exams. 6)They are no proper boarding facilities and security for outstation students. 7)The IB program offered is not transparent enough to make other International Schools aboard understand the grading process. 8)None of the admin staff are helpful to parents pertaining to administrative information and documents upon your child’s departure.

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