In the field of education this year, a flurry of news about the closure of international schools has attracted widespread attention.
At the end of July, Nord Anglia School in Fangshan, Beijing, which had only been established for five years, announced its closure.
Immediately afterwards, Houde College, a well-known international school in Shenzhen, was revealed to have been removed from the recruitment system due to arrears, and the students will be arranged to continue their studies in a private school in Longgang District.
The Renshou Campus of Chengdu Foreign Chinese School is also facing a similar closure, and officials have confirmed that the news of the closure is true. What's even more surprising is that in March this year, the school also announced a new round of enrollment information:
This news is undoubtedly regrettable, as in the eyes of industry insiders, the international education sector seems to be experiencing a "self-cleaning".
This phenomenon is not only in China, but also in the world, and international education systems are facing varying degrees of challenges.
So, what is the reason for the closure of these international schools one after another? Is the situation just as dire abroad?
1. The reasons behind the wave of international school closures
Behind the frequent closures of international schools is a complex set of factors.
1. First of all, from a macro perspective, the continuous decline in the birth rate is one of the reasons that cannot be ignored.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, from 2004 to 2023, the birth rate of the mainland population has experienced a phase of stability, fluctuation and year-on-year decline.
As the population decreases, so does the potential student pool for schools, further exacerbating the difficulty of recruiting students for international schools.
2. In addition, policy factors are also influencing the development of international schools.
According to national policy, the number of students enrolled in private schools must not exceed 5% of the total student population, which means that the market share of private education will gradually shrink.
Screenshot of the TV series "Tiger Mom and Cat Dad".
With the tightening of policies, the living space of international schools has also been limited to a certain extent.
3. In addition, the operating costs of international schools are high.
Whether it is the salary of teachers, state-of-the-art teaching facilities, or cooperation projects with foreign educational institutions, the financial situation of the school is extremely high.
Nord Anglia School Fangshan, Beijing
Schools may be at risk of closure if there is a problem with the funding chain, such as investor withdrawal, insufficient enrollment, or tuition revenues that do not cover costs.
This is one of the reasons why investor confidence in international schools has been waning in recent years.
Second, the dilemma of the United States education system:
Elite schools are also not immune to doom
Not only China, but also foreign educational institutions are facing a similar dilemma.
Last year, at least four boarding high schools and 12 day schools in the United States faced closure, including Mount Alvernia High School, a century-old private school in Boston, which drew widespread concern and regret.
In April, Wells College, one of the first women's liberal arts colleges in the United States, announced it would close after the spring semester ended.
Although the school is ranked 152nd in the U.S. News National Liberal Arts College Rankings, and was named to the Princeton Review's list of the best colleges in the Northeast last year, it has produced the first lady of United States and has joint degree programs with Columbia, the University of Rochester, and Clarkson University.
But its endowment has fallen to $24 million. The university admitted that it could not continue to operate due to the significant financial challenges caused by the decline in the number of undergraduates and inflationary pressures.
Wells College is not alone. In June, the University of the Arts (UArts), a century-old private art school in downtown Philadelphia, announced its closure and laid off about 700 employees.
UArts student sit-in calls for school savings
The number of university closures in the United States is increasing dramatically compared to the past decade, and even some well-known universities are experiencing varying degrees of financial distress.
According to Forbes' latest 2024 United States University Financial Ratings, there are currently only 27 United States universities with a very strong financial position and an A+ rating.
Comprehensive universities include:
University of Pennsylvania, Brigham Young University, Cornell University, Yale University, Texas Christian University, Stanford University, Duke University, University of Notre Dame, Washington University in St. Louis, Carnegie Mellon University, Colombia University.
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences includes:
Lemont · McKenna College, Bryn Mawr College, Hillsdale College, St. Mary's College, Hollins University, Johnson Smith University, Pomona College, Williams College, Bowdoin College, Swarthmore College, Wesleyan College, Amherst College, Hamilton College.
The movie "Letter of Acceptance" tells the story of a high school graduate who fails to be admitted,
A comedy story that created a fictional university with friends.
These universities have been able to remain competitive in a volatile educational environment thanks to their strong financial base and a steady student base.
However, even these top institutions are facing uncertainty about the future. As the global economic environment changes, especially inflation and the rising cost of education in the United States, the financial health of higher education institutions will be further pressured.
And this pressure will eventually be partially passed on to students, especially international students.
In recent years, tuition fees for international students at almost all United States colleges and universities have been rising. New York University, for example, has seen a steady increase in international student tuition over the past few years.
In the 2018-2019 academic year, NYU's international student majors averaged $53,310/year; In the 2023-2024 school year, that number rises to about $62,540 per year, an increase of nearly 17%.
Stills from the Korean drama "Cheongdam International High School".
3. How will domestic and international schools change?
In the face of the current predicament, international schools are bound to change and innovate in order to survive and thrive.
First of all, international schools will be more flexible and adaptable in recruiting students, and open up new source markets, especially in second- and third-tier cities or areas with potential demand abroad.
At the same time, international schools will also reduce operating costs by optimizing teaching and learning resources, introducing technology (such as online education), and partnering with other educational institutions at home and abroad.
Secondly, international schools will pay more attention to the improvement of education quality. It is not only the upgrading of hardware facilities, but more importantly, whether it can be convincing in terms of teaching performance and quality.
Distribution of the number of domestic international schools by the end of 2023
Through in-depth cooperation with internationally renowned educational institutions, we introduce an international curriculum system and teaching mode to enhance the competitiveness of the school.
From a global perspective, the future development of the education system will face more challenges and opportunities.
Statistics on the average number of foreign teachers in international schools by the end of 2023
On the one hand, with the deepening of globalization, the flow of educational resources and talents will become more frequent, and the cooperation between educational institutions will be further strengthened.
On the other hand, with the changes in the education policies of various countries, the competition in the international education market will become more intense.
So, for our domestic students and parents, how to deal with this situation? What should be considered when choosing a school?
Fourth, the era of education reform calls for rational choice
The phenomenon of "self-cleaning" in the international education industry is actually a process of continuous self-optimization and evolution of the education industry.
In this process, schools certainly need to respond to new challenges through reform and innovation, but the most important thing is how our parents and students can make more rational and reasonable choices.
When choosing a university in United States, parents and students can refer to the evaluation lists of professional organizations such as U.S.NEWS, which usually rank based on multiple dimensions such as the school's financial status, academic reputation, and student satisfaction, providing a reliable reference for applicants.
However, when choosing an international high school in China, in addition to the annual Forbes China Education Forum, which summarizes the domestic and international education situation of the previous year, there is still a lack of similar professional lists, which makes parents face greater challenges when choosing a school.
Therefore, the following suggestions can help parents make a more informed choice without professional rankings:
01
In-depth research on the school's background and qualifications
Parents should learn about the school's history, educational philosophy, qualifications, and whether it has been recognized by the relevant education departments.
In particular, the progression of previous students can reflect the legitimacy and strength of the school.
02
Evaluate the quality of teaching and faculty
The quality of teaching is an important criterion for measuring a school.
Parents should pay attention to the school's curriculum, teaching methods, and teachers' qualifications and teaching experience.
Understanding the background of the teachers, especially their experience in international education, is essential to judge the level of teaching in a school.
03
Inspect the campus environment and facilities
The school's hardware facilities and learning environment have a direct impact on the learning experience of students.
Parents can visit the school's teaching buildings, libraries, laboratories, sports facilities, etc., to assess the school's overall learning environment and resource allocation.
04
Pay attention to parents' word-of-mouth and students' evaluations
Other parent and student evaluations are often a reflection of what is really going on at the school.
Parents can get first-hand information about the school through online forums, social media, or directly with current students and parents.
These evaluations and feedback can help parents get a more complete picture of the school's strengths and weaknesses.
By taking into account the above factors, parents can still make relatively rational and objective choices in the absence of professional rankings to ensure that their children can enter an international school that is suitable for their development.
The annual Forbes China Education Forum is an event worth paying attention to for parents
Through in-depth understanding and rational analysis of the global education market, ZeroStart predicts:
In the future, the education landscape will be more diverse, and international schools, as an important part of it, will continue to occupy a place in the global education system through self-adjustment.
After all, globalization remains one of the important trends in education. More and more families are still choosing to send their children to study abroad as a key way to quality education and a global perspective.
As an important bridge between domestic education and overseas higher education, international schools are still the first choice for many families, and they are also the most secure and promising path.