The closure of the highly regarded International School Saigon Pearl (ISSP) in Ho Chi Minh City due to declining enrollment could indicate that the international school model is facing a downturn in the southern Vietnamese metropolis, according to independent education expert Bui Khanh Nguyen.

ISSP, which has taught preschool and elementary students for the past 15 years, has announced that it will cease operations after the 2024-25 academic year due to a significant decline in student enrollment.

According to Nguyen, the closure of ISSP is not an isolated case as many other international schools are facing similar enrollment challenges, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nguyen attributes the situation to several factors.

First, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a wave of foreign workers leaving Vietnam. Many returned to their home countries for jobs that offered better proximity to their families.

Second, the income and benefits of foreign workers in Vietnam have been affected. Large companies that once included international school packages for foreign workers’ children have reduced these benefits.

Additionally, international schools are struggling to attract foreign teachers back to Vietnam.  Teachers are choosing to return home or move to countries closer to their families, especially if the salary and benefits packages are not competitive.

For local Vietnamese students, many are opting for bilingual schools, which have increasingly adopted international curricula and offer international degrees, such as the International General Certificate of Secondary Education or A-Level. 

These bilingual schools cost about 60 percent of that charged by international schools, providing parents greater financial safety and less concern over their children’s Vietnamese language and culture education.

Depending on their financial situation, families can easily move their children from bilingual schools to international schools or public education if needed.

Nguyen also notes that bilingual schools are growing in Ho Chi Minh City, while international schools are shrinking.

Another significant competitor is online international schools, which offer tuition fees as low as one-tenth of traditional international schools, while still providing remote education and awarding prestigious diplomas like American, Australian highschool certificates, the International Baccalaureate, and A-Level.

Finally, sending children abroad for high school education is becoming a popular option. 

Many parents find that studying abroad offers better facilities and teaching quality compared to typical international schools in Vietnam.

Nguyen believes that learning goals, alongside the experience, are key factors for parents when choosing schools. 

For instance, if a child plans to study abroad, attending an international school may better prepare them for an overseas university. 

However, for some majors, such as business, studying in Vietnam may offer similar results, especially for those returning to work in Vietnam. 

For high-tech fields, studying abroad provides clearer advantages, such as exposure to advanced technology and better job prospects, especially in countries like the U.S., where STEM students can work for three years after graduation.

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