The International Schools Review Forum

Aside from ISKL, what other international schools in Malaysia have a good reputation? How do the rest of them rate regarding salaries, housing and positive working environments?

Can anyone offer any first hand knowledge?

My wife and I are really interested in moving to KL but are finding it difficult to find current information as there are only 3 schools on Search. Can anyone offer any concrete info about Garden, Alice Smith, British or Australian School? Any others worth looking into?

Please help!

Alice Smith offers a really good package, you can def save and travel around Asia. Housing is expensive in KL but they do offer more to couples and families and you can afford a nice apartment in a safe complex but you wouldn't get close to a house in an expat gated community. They also offer a lot of nice extras like free bus transport if you have kids in a different location than you (the secondary school is a long way from the primary).

I don't know about the other schools but the ones you mentioned are all in a similar league. One thing to remember about Malaysia is that they have a pension scheme, EPF and you and the employer put a % of your wage in every month and then when you finally leave the country you get all that back as a tax free lump sum. It can add up to 20% of your salary, which over 2 or more years is very nice!

Mt. Kiara is another school worth looking into, though I have no firsthand knowledge of it. Malaysia (especially the good schools) seems like one of the tougher places to get a job, competition is fierce.

Thanks for the info, really helpful.

Will have a look at Mt Kiara too. The pension scheme sounds like a useful way to save. Is this a prerequisite for all international schools in Malaysia?

If anyone has any other current information on reputable schools in Malaysia, please let me know.

Thanks!

The schools with good packages, as far as I know, are Alice Smith, Garden, Nexus, Australian International School, Mont Kiara. ISKL's package is good and them some more.

I just left Montkiara International School. Let me know what you want to know.

Malaysia is terrific for travel opportunities. Life in KL can be a lot of fun, and yes, the EPF pension scheme is a terrific departing gift. I worked at Sunway College in the Canadian International Matriculation Program about 8 years ago. There is also a similar program at Taylor's College, both schools located in the near suburbs of KL proper. Good pay at Sunway, mandatory savings plan, general autonomy as a teacher, students are generally terrific. As they go to this program primarily just for a year (to get grade 12 credits and ultimately a Canadian High School diploma), most are living in dorms, away from parents and in two years, I don't think I personally met a parent once. These kids are generally shoring up their credentials to get into university, so they want to do well. It was a totally different kind of gig than we were used to, but loved it and wouldn't hesitate to return to Malaysia.

Hi - could you please tell me how to apply to Sunway? I can't find the link on their website.

Thanks!

How about the schools in Penang? Why are those salaries so low? Are the benefits extra great? What would be the schools to avoid?

I was offered a job at Sunway a couple of years. I think they probably only hire Canadians. If you want the recruiters email address PM me.

The schools salaries in Penang are low because the schools aren't top tier plus the "benefits" are living on a tropical island. No, the actual benefits are not great. The main schools there, Prince of Wales, Dalat, and Uplands are roughly on par but its mostly of a choice of new school, american/religious school, british school.

Wow, that is surprising. I'd heard Uplands was a good school. Don't the DP students score well? Anyhow, looks like KL is better for pay, benefits and maybe even for my career.