Moving from Uk to India- potential education struggles!!!!

[mesha123]

Hi,

Hubby wants to relocate to India wanting to look after his parents.

Dd is 9 years old and is in year 5.

We enquired for schools in India and based on age they suggested start there In year 4. So she will be behind by nearly 2 years. There will be a lot of struggle especially relating to learning new local languages as they are compulsory since year 1 there. Dd doesn't know any local languages. Plus there will be regular tests and quarterly exams. And in Indian education system if a child fails in the exam they repeat a whole academic year.

What other struggles will a child go through apart from cultural differences.

Does Anyone had a similar experience they could share?

How can I prepare her to ease with the transition.

Thanks for reading

If he is from the area why has your husband never taken the time to teach her his language?

Wow such an insightful and helpful first reply 👏

@Wibblywobblylikejelly really unhelpful.

OP I hope that someone with relevant knowledge will come along soon.

Are you and your child happy with this relocation?
I'd be very concerned about your child fitting in to such a change in their education, particularly given the strictness of it.

Where in India are you moving?

Depending on the place, it maybe possible to ease the transition a bit by going to one of the international schools (they are all selective though AFAIK). Many major cities have at least one, but often more, that follow iGCSE curriculum, much closer to the UK education system, and local languages are introduced a bit later than in such schools.

I know few families that went back and chose such schools. Also aware of similar such moves from US. It wasn't obviously all smooth sailing, but in all cases DC did well..

If you are moving to Kolkata, I can get some more specific information as we are in touch with a family that moved there. Feel free to DM if you are prefer.

I'm not sure which part of India you would be moving to.

Would this school be suitable?

https://www.british-school.org/

What do you want to do Mesha123 ?

When you say your husband want to go to look after his parents, does he mean you looking after them ? Do you plan to work over there ? Would you be allowed to work, have the right qualifications etc ? Is there family around - to ask for help in re-locating, etc? Where would you live ?

There are so many things to think about, as well as schools.

What do YOU want to do? You should ensured your DD has an international school to attend, where she can be taught in English and everyone will speak English. Will you live in a big city? If so likely to be modern with everything you need to be comfortable and less of a culture shock.

You need to be on board with this OP. Otherwise you may be returning back on your own, without your DD

OP just a couple of weeks ago you were asking about U.K. secondary schools and entry exams - this seems like an awfully rapid turnaround to be now looking at moving continent.

I hate to say this, but why would you do this to your DC unless you think it's better for them? India is so competitive (well you have to be with a billion people and no social welfare) so I would say your DC will really struggle there, at school then also at work if they remain. It's truly cut throat

Surely your kids would go to an international school and be taught along expats if they have no oval language skillls?

Look for an international school where she can slot into the right year group. Honestly this is not a great idea for your DD. He would be better off securing home help and visiting regularly. Do you want to move to India? Is this a bout of guilt?

What PP said - look into other options such as hiring domestic help over in India and having your husband visit his parents more often.

I'd be putting my foot down and refusing point blank, in my case. In these cases, the wife is usually the one who ends up doing the caring work.

I think asking why Dad hasn't taught his daughter the local language, even just attempting to teach her, is a reasonable question. You don't opt out of teaching your native language and then nine years later announce that you're going to up sticks to the country in question, in my book.

OP, the quality of education in India varies wildly depending on where you live and which Board your child’s school prepares them for. For example, there are schools which do the IB or IGSCE, ICSE, SSC or CBSE.

I’d avoid the State-based Boards or Municipal schools. However there are excellent ‘English-medium’ schools all over the country (schools where the language of instruction is English, except for specialist language lessons). I can suggest some options in different cities/States if you’d like to PM me.

Maths teaching in India is different. My colleagues with an Indian education all have terrific maths skills. I think it's more 'sit down and shut up' type of learning, not as interactive as the UK.

Are you sure they would be putting her back 2 years? Most countries start school much later than England, so kids of the stame age are often in lower number classes compared to their english peers. I think India starts school at 6, so year 4 would be about right.

BUT, as above, would you be able to fund and access an international school place? The English medium schools mentioned above also sound worth investigating.

I'd also think about you. Is DH going to be able to get a job? If so, is it you going to be doing the caring? And what's the long term plan? Because if it's 5 years and coming back to the UK, you need to figure out how that would look too.

Those aren't all questions that need answering publicly. But they are ones I'd strongly suggest thinking through. Moving abroad isn't for the faint hearted. You might benifit from looking through the living abroad topic, and see there are other posters asking about India - past or present.

Where in India? My husband is 50, and even back when he was in school said that the vast majority of education is in English from the day they start.

Was this always the plan?

When DH says to look after parents, does he mean you look after them?

Seriously don't go. If that really is the only option for her education stay. Why would he want to sabotage his daughter's education in such a way? What is the long term plan? To come back but her have fallen way behind here. What is he doing for work and what are you doing for work? If an international school is not an option then just don't go.

OP is looking at uprooting her and her child's entire lives and dropping them in a place where they could potentially become miserable and stuck for years.
With no support system
Potentially no money
Potentially a lot of misery.

All on the say of a man who was so hands on with his child he never taught her his native language that his parents speak.

I

Yes international school is an option and we will be moving to Ahmedabad Gujarat.

Yes he will be working- his current job will be continuing and so he will be working from home and traveling back for few days or weeks as ann when needed.

He has never been involved with her education. It's always me who did her teaching. As she has been very hyperactive and have very little attention span.

Sorry forgot to add that the medium of instruction is English but Hindi is an additional language which is compulsory since 1st grade.

I know that there's at least one international school in Ahmedabad that follows the IGCSE curriculum. This was a few years ago, so there may be more now.
Most private schools would teach in English anyway, though students would have to learn 1-2 other languages too.
Standard 4/ Grade 4 in India is the equivalent of Year 5 in the UK, I think. Most 9 year olds would be in Standard 4.

Hang on OP, your husband wants to move to India to look after his parents but will be working and travelling back every few weeks? So who is looking after his parents, exactly? Would that be you?
Is this what you want?
Schools are the least of it right now I think.

That's true only for private schools though. Even now, vast majority of children in India go to state schools where the medium of instruction is the main language of the state (Hindi in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil in Tamil Nadu and so on). Most schools teach at least three languages from an early age - English, Hindi, and the state language.

So how is he going to be looking after his parents? Does he see that as woman’s work together with looking after his daughter?