Pristina, Kosovo Report of what it's like to live there - 02/23/16
Personal Experiences from Pristina, Kosovo
School Name:
International Learning Group School (ILG)
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
I am a parent.
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
Kindergarten
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2015 onwards
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
I am a local who lives in Prishtina while my partner is from UK and is based here working as a researcher/writer.
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Because it is the best English language school in Kosova - there is no real competition to it.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
A
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
A
Administration & School Procedures:
1. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
This is a small school with about 150 students where there is an incredible stimulating atmosphere. Within weeks of attending the school, my daughter was encouraged to:
a) take one book a week from the school library and demand that we read it at home and get a new book the following week
b) even in Kindergarten she started having IT classes which got her literate in using of computers, something that is much more advanced than other schools in Prishtina for children who are not yet attending primary school
c) she had a choice of after-school clubs to attend such as science, dancing, cooking, arts & crafts, choir, guitar and piano lessons and Albanian classes.
d) they take school trips which are inclusive of parents too
e) my child grows up in a very diverse environments where in a class of 15 students, there are 10 different varied mother tongues - which means she comes back home with a wide view of the world since her friends come from all over the world
2. For the following attributes, down to the next blank box, grade your experience at the school on a scale of A (excellent) to F (unacceptable/terrible) and provide comments:<br><br>Overall fair and equitable treatment of all students and families:
A
3. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
A
4. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
A
5. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
Yes - lunch and after-school clubs
6. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
A
7. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:
A
8. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
A
9. Administration-parent communication:
A
10. Teacher-student communication:
A
11. Academics, answer the following questions "yes" or "no" with an explanation if appropriate:<br><br>Are there any classes or subjects where students are not appropriately challenged?
No
12. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:
No
13. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:
14. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
Yes, many
15. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
Yes
16. Have your children participated in the activities offered? If no, please indicate why:
Yes
17. Does the school provide appropriate assistance to new students?
Yes
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
A
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
A
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
A
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
A
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
A
6. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
The school is before AdvancED accreditation.
7. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Yes
8. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
A
9. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes
10. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
No
11. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
Yes
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
Yes
2. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
No
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
It is the rights size to feel like a community rather than just a school and stimulates the child to become smart and sociable.
2. Would you choose this school again? Why?
Yes
