More Chinese parents choosing int'l schools for kids

An increasing number of Chinese parents are sending their children to international schools in the country, despite the high costs.

The number of international schools has surged in the past 12 years — from 22 in 2000 to 342 in 2013, according to a recent report by UK-based ISC Research.

International schools tend to thrive in countries where English is not the native language, particularly due to demand from expatriate families, according to the report.

Murray Fowler, the headmaster of Wellington College International Tianjin, which is open to students ages 2 to 18, told China Daily that the surge in international schools not only reflects a boom in the number of foreign families settling down in China, but also a growing group of ambitious Chinese parents who want to make sure their children receive a solid education.

The headmaster of the UK-based international school, with an annual tuition fee of more than 200,000 yuan ($32,240), said that due to the structure of China's educational system and booming middle class, they expect to see dramatic growth in China's international school market.

"An increasing number of Chinese wealthy families are recognizing the benefits of an international education for their kids," he said.

Located on a 35,400 square meter site in Tianjin, with an investment of 470 million yuan, the school now has 73 teachers, including 17 local teachers and 56 foreign teachers.