New expat school helps ease crunch

Singapore - Even with a newly launched expatriate school, the supply crunch for places in expatriate schools here is still a long way from easing up.

Located on Upper Changi Road East, newly launched One World International School Singapore is located on the premises of the former Siglap Changi Community Centre. It will cater to 450 students under the Early Childhood and Primary classes initially, with Secondary classes to be added in 2009.

"As expatriates are living and working here for longer periods than before, the demand for quality international school education has increased, beyond what the existing international schools can provide," says Nishant Garodia, director of One World International School.

Lee Quane, general manager of ECA International Asia, cites this new establishment along with the government's move to free up land for other established international schools as "a step in the right direction". According to Quane, one of the barriers expatriates have against moving to a host country is with regards to their children's education - either with the lack of available facilities or a long waiting period.

However, due to the influx of expatriates over the past few years, especially in 2007, Quane says there is still a supply and demand crunch when it comes to school places for expatriates' children. And this is likely to have an impact on Singapore and its economic growth - which is dependent on the importation of labour and talent.

“With the growing demands for International schools, the opening of One World International School will help alleviate the shortage, and it will also contribute its part to help Singapore boost its cosmopolitan image, ” says Garodia.