Evacuation Affects Children’s Education Too: Got to Go, What to Know
When families are moved by their companies to a new country they generally have an expectation of living a normal life in their new home, be it a three year expatriate assignment or a permanent local move. Of course we are aware that plans change – mergers and acquisitions take place, profit targets may not be reached, or an employee may be needed even more in a different location. However, a sudden move home or to yet another country due to crisis – either political unrest as we have been seeing in Egypt in recent days, or events like the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong – leaves families packing and panicking at the same time. Utmost among their concerns is the children and their education.
In recent weeks School Choice International has been working with a multitude of families forced to evacuate Egypt – virtually without notice. Prior to their original move, disrupting their children’s schooling in an orderly and thoughtful manner worried these parents. But for children uprooted without warning and evacuated for reasons of safety, relocation can be a true trauma. Children who are evacuated often don’t have the opportunity to say good-bye, and may not understand why they are leaving or where they are going. Parents are overwhelmed by myriad issues that need instant resolution, and uncertainty about the immediate as well as distant future prevails. Under these circumstances families are moved to new locations without choice – so schools may be full, a new language may present obstacles and curriculum is likely to be different – all of which is harder without notice. Often this move precedes another one once the families are removed from harm’s way and time permits the company to make longer-lasting decisions.
Although evacuations are rare, there may be other reasons, i.e., natural disasters or health of a family member at home or abroad, that result in a rapid exit from expat assignments. In today’s world it is worthwhile for families to be ready for a quick exit, and being positioned to move children rapidly to a new school in an unknown country is an important piece of this strategy. With the internet and Google documents, even a family forced to leave everything behind can access key documents as soon as they are needed in their new home – as long as they are prepared.
A simple way to be prepared for any eventuality is for a parent to develop a Google documents file for each of their children. This will simplify the transition in the event that they are forced to apply to schools in a new location without notice. Files can be organized according to tabs, so each child can have their own virtual portfolio divided into categories that are easily retrievable.
For the next school search:
Scanning and saving official documents is a good idea. Even though schools may not accept scanned copies during a normal application process, families that are hurriedly evacuated may find that schools in their new locations are sympathetic and more willing to be flexible. Documents in each child’s portfolio should include:
- History of immunizations and vaccinations/health records
- School transcripts for the past three years, including those from the prior school as well as the child’s current school
- Report cards that include teacher comments above and beyond those included in transcripts
- Copies of diplomas, awards or any other significant accomplishments in school, in religious life or in extracurricular activities
- Copies of applications to schools children currently attend in expatriate destinations. It will be easier to extract from these than to rewrite application essays from scratch.
- Recent work samples including writing samples, mathematics papers and any specialty work in areas of particular strengths and/or interests
- Copies of teacher recommendations used for admission to current school, as well as one or two requested from any current teacher with whom the child has an exceptional rapport. Keeping email addresses or telephone numbers of these teachers may be useful if you need additional information later from afar.
These files should be updated semi-annually. If kept current these materials should be sufficient to apply to a new school, no matter how hurried the exit.
For the child’s emotional well-being:
In addition to academic files, if parents have time we recommend that they maintain an up-to-date file that would give the child solace in the event that s/he is unable to say a proper good-bye. Photos of friends, scanned copies of special valentines, birthday cards, notes from special people, notes from teachers, sports awards and an on-line journal, if a child is able to keep one, will all be cherished after departure. Remember to maintaining contact details (email addresses and telephone numbers of friends, coaches and teachers so that the child can contact them after the fact.
Conclusion:
Nothing can prevent an evacuation from being stressful. But a bit of preparation when life is stable will go a long way in helping families find new schools and gain admission to them even under the worst of circumstances. And settling into in his/her new school will be the child’s most important step to recovering from the trauma of a forced evacuation.
Source: School Choice International
