The International Schools Review Forum

Please rate the following schools for their employment contracts that offer similar savings and some free weekends.
1. IS BKK
2. NIST
3. Bangkok Patana
4. UWCSEA
5. Tanglin
6. ISKL
7. Jakarta IS
8. IS Manila
9. British School Manila
Any other?

Latest information from insiders will be appreciated.

'Any other' : British International School, Jakarta.
Excellent terms and conditions.

NIST is not top tier; it's 2nd tier.

JIS is good but pretty far away from everything. I spoke to a teacher there once and she said it takes 2-3 hours to get downtown.

ISKL takes a lot of startup money once hired (look at reviews for details).

JIS isn't far from 'downtown', it just takes a lot of time to get any where in JKT.

This is why the package isn't everything. In JKT JIS may have the best package in terms of salary and perks (bungalow retreat etc.) but it's still JKT.

NIST may be only considered 2nd tier but you'll have a hell of a better time in BKK for less than the money you would in JKT!

Ah, back to this old debate.

For SE Asia, my rankings (based on savings potential, school quality, package and lifestyle) would be:

1. ISB
2. NIST
3. SAS
4. ISKL
5. UWSEA
6. JIS
7. UNIS
8. ISM
9. Patana
10. HCMIS

Not sure why the British School of Manila/British School Jakarta/Tanglin are even mentioned. They would be WAY down my list.

Number 10...HCMIS - I assume this is aka IS-HCMC?

Would you care to comment further about this school? I've visited the city a number of times and love it, but I've heard of tax rates as high as 35% in schools there. The ISHCMC salary seems ok (according to Search database), but the reviews for the school on the paid section of this site aren't great.

I'm debating whether or not to talk to them at the job fair this season.

Is UNIS, Hanoi really better than Bangkok Patana?

[quote="durianfan"]
JIS is good but pretty far away from everything. I spoke to a teacher there once and she said it takes 2-3 hours to get downtown.
[/quote]

Traffic in Jkt is terrible - but new teachers are generally placed in areas where there is a fair bit to do without travelling for anywhere near that long. Many teachers, for instance, live in Kemang, and are in walking distance of lots of bars, restaurants and shops etc.

Teachers do tend to stay at JIS for a fairly long time - so Jkt must not be too hideous;)

I would also add in no particular order
HKIS
Canadian Int Sch of HK
Chinese Int Sch HK

And I think the British School in Manila is a fine school, with a good package, and in a great location (for being in Manila).

There is also a pretty good school in Yangon, but I can't remember the exact name.

I'd stay clear of ISHMC - they had a mass exodus of teachers leaving last year. It's turned into a very for-profit organization.

[quote="nikkor"]I would also add in no particular order
HKIS
Canadian Int Sch of HK
Chinese Int Sch HK

And I think the British School in Manila is a fine school, with a good package, and in a great location (for being in Manila).

There is also a pretty good school in Yangon, but I can't remember the exact name.[/quote]

I would agree with putting HKIS, Canadian Int School of HK in the top 10 if you consider HK part of SE Asia. But if you do, then you have to start looking at other schools in S.China and Taipei.

To say NIST is 2nd tier is plain silly.
You are right about ISHMC though.

Oh and Jakarta IS hideous!

To say NIST is 2nd tier is plain silly.
You are right about ISHMC though.

Oh and Jakarta IS hideous!

To say NIST is 2nd tier is plain silly.
You are right about ISHMC though.

Oh and Jakarta IS hideous!