Job Discussion Forums

Sonnibarger · Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 320 Location: Wuhan

I am only going on the experience of a buddy i know.. He pays 800 rmb a semester (i think.. ill ask the school and get back to you) for his son to attend primary school... It is the 2nd or 3rd best school in the city.. I can't see a school you have no association with offering your son free tuition.. I could be wrong though.. im sure lots of schools would love to have a white kids face around for advertising purposes.. I would talk to your potential employer.. they will probably have connections to many local schools and could pull a few strings for you. sorry i cant be a little more concrete... things in china seem to change province to province, city to city, school to school, day to day, person to person

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

rossabrooks · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 9 Location: Canada

I'd try to get a job at an international school if I were you (though it's really difficult to do). They can offer good salary, and free education for your children. Plus it's the only way to afford educating your children in English. There are some second tier international schools where it is easier to find a job, but usually they do not pay as well (Changchun American International School, Australian International School Beijing, etc). If your children don't speak Chinese, they'll have a tough time at any other type of school, but it could be very rewarding in the end. Hiring an ayi to look after your children is cheap, but it will be difficult, maybe even impossible to find one who is educated, truly caring, and can speak English. Homeschooling is an option too, if you or your wife are willing to spend a lot of time at home to look after your children. Your wife, who has Chinese background?, may not be treated like a foreigner (which can be good or bad). The bad side though is that she may not be able to find a job as high paying as you.