School Hunt

I have moved back to Cavalry ground area and now looking for some good nearby school for my daughter. She is done with preschool and will be going to class 1 insha Allah. I need your valuable suggestion in helping me deciding about school. Below is list of schools that I am evaluating:

Islamic:

I have contacted and visited schools that claim to be Islamic and focus on child's moral and character building along with education. But surprisingly, fee of all of these schools except Ibn e Sina is more that non-islamic schools. Below is short summary of my findings:

 

1. Rosans Islamic School

A school with small building and not very big infrastructure. A small playground and small rooms. They have salat rooms and also teach basic duas and manners to child (this is what they said). Also have hifz option.

a. Admission fee: 40,000 Rs (Don't think I have added extra zero)

b. Registration fee: around 6000 Rs.

c. Tution fee: Around 10,000. (excluding stationary and A.C charges for summer).

d. Website: http://rosansislamicschool.com/wp/home1/

 

2. Scholistic Islamia School

 

A school run by Dr. Arif Rana and Dr. Arif Zaman sb. I have not yet visited them but talked to them over phone. I am planning to go there tomorrow. Their claims are mostly similar to Rosans. Fee details are:

a. Admission fee: 31,000 Rs.

b. Registration fee: 1000 Rs.

c. Tution fee: 35000 Rs. (3 months)

d. Website: http://scholasticislamiah.com.pk/

 

3. SCIL

 

Another Islamic school in Gulberg. My ex-colleague's son is studying here and he provided good feedback of this school. Fee structure is:

a. Admission fee: 35,000 Rs.

b. Registration fee: 3000 Rs.

c. Tution fee: 9500, stationary: 850 Rs. and AC charges 1500 Rs. for summer quarters.

d. Website: http://www.scil.edu.pk

 

4. Ibn e Sina

 

Seems pretty good school but admissions are closed. Their academic year starts from January and admissions are closed now. Details are at http://www.ibnesinacollege.com/

 

5. LAPS

 

This school is run by Sheikh Zulfiqar sb's Mureedeen. My colleague's daughter is studying here and he is quite satisfied with school. One thing that I don't like about this school is that father is not allowed to visit school or participate in any parents teacher meetings. Only mother can visit school.

Fee structure is:

a. Admission fee: 20,000 Rs.

b. Registration fee: 3000 Rs.

c. Tution fee: 11000 excluding stationary and other charges.

d. Website: http://www.hamnacenter.org/little_angles_pre_school.php

Conventional Schools

6. Resource Academia

 

Its very near to my office on Khursheed Qaoori road near Hussain chowk. Its project of Punjab group of colleges for ELITE class. This is something that I don't like about this school. Fee and contact details are:

a. Admission fee: 10,000 Rs.

b. Registration fee: 3000 Rs.

c. Tution fee: 13500 excluding stationary and other charges.

d. Website: http://www.resourceacademia.edu.pk/ and for fee structure http://resourceacademia.edu.pk/admissions.htm

 

7. Citi School

 

A branded school and its Gulberg campus is very near to our office. It has huge infrastructure with large playgrounds for different sports. Bad thing is that like other non-islamic shools it also has Music class. Fee structure and other details are:

a. Admission fee: 0 Rs. (its 100% waved off At the moment).

b. Registration fee: 500 Rs.

c. Tution fee: 10205 excluding stationary and other charges. Computer fee is 400 Rs.

d. Website: http://thecityschool.edu.pk/

 

8. Lahore Grammar School (LGS)

 

Another branded school with huge infrastructure. Its campus is also near to our office which is good. Bad thing is its ultra mod education.

 

9. Beaconhouse

 

Haven't evaluated yet. Or I should say haven't considered to evaluate it.

 

10. Defence Public School

 

Same as 9.

 

11. Army Public School

 

It is also known as Garrison academy. Conventional school with conventional style of teaching. It has good infrastructure and is also not ultra mod with music and dance classes. Only thing is that these schools give preference to children of Army persons and civilians have very limited seats. Also admissions start in Jan/Feb. period.

Registration Fee:  800 Rs.
Prospectus Fee: 300 Rs.
Test Fee: 100 Rs.
Admission Fee: 14000 Rs.
Security: 5500 Rs.
Tution Fee: 5,386 Rs.
Computer Fee: 132 Rs.
Sports: 25 Rs.
Library: 35 Rs.
CDF: 167 Rs.
Generator:  55 Rs.

Above charges are excluding other charges.

Website: http://gja.lges.edu.pk/

Parameters of School Evaluation:

Following are few parameters that I am using to evaluate all of these schools:

1. Student to teacher ratio in a class

It should be small so that kid can get proper attention of teacher.

 

2. School infrastructure

    a. Building: Children should at least have some space to play.
    b. Grades: School should be at least up to A-Level/FSc. as I don't want to change school without any genuine reason.

3. Coaching Requirement:

I have observed this trend in almost every family. Child comes back from school, eat lunch and then go to academy/tution. He then comes back after 2-3 hrs and then his Qari sb comes to teach Quran e pak. I don't want to pay 15k to school and another 15k to academy. If I am paying 15k to school, I assume that teacher will be doing everything that is required for my kid's education.

4. Music/Dance classes:

This is something that I want to avoid. I don't want my kid to be performing (this is what they say) on different songs.