International schools ride booming demand in China

Desire of growing middle class for their children to learn English, plus needs of Chinese families returning from spells abroad, is fuelling a rapid rise in provision of international education in China

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A preschool class at Huamei International School.

Published: 6:00pm, 22 Nov 2015Updated: 6:41pm, 22 Nov 2015

Victor Xian was five years old when his family emigrated to Australia from Guangzhou in 2007. Living in Sydney, he quickly fitted in at school, where he played soccer with his new friends and was in no time speaking fluent English.

At the age of 10, as he was looking forward to starting junior high school, his family decided to return to Guangzhou to care for his ageing grandparents, but Victor was not happy about the move. Besides the adjustment of leaving his friends behind, Victor's basic Chinese meant he couldn't attend the local schools, so his family sought an alternative.

After passing strict assessment criteria, Victor was admitted to the American International School in Guangzhou (AISG). Now in Year Eight, the 13-year-old regularly hangs out with his English-speaking friends. Although he speaks Cantonese at home, he has little interest in learning Putonghua at school and has opted to learn Spanish as a second language.

His mother, Ada Xian Meishan, is frustrated: "He is pure-blooded Chinese. Of course I want him to study Chinese, but I have to respect his wishes. He'll know one day how important Chinese is."