What do you get in return when you pay 2000 euro a month as school fee?

The curiosity made me visit International School of Amsterdam on a rainy day. With a prior appointment I am at the reception of ISA -

Within a minute of my arrival, Tina, a colleague of Joy the admission officer is there to receive me in Visitor’s area. She already has a file with details I provided over e-mail and offers me a cup of coffee with cookie. That’s a nice treat for a person drenched in rain.

Starting with verifying the details about my niece, the potential student, she proudly gives an overview of how international their school is with students from 52 nationalities. Some unimportant details and then I am offered a tour to the school to showcase what a typical day is for a student like.

The layout of school is circular {or pentagon?} so that if a student is lost he/she would end up in the central entrance area. There is a room that belongs to PTA (Parent Teachers Association) where parents can wait for their kids after school. I am told that PTA plays very active role in functioning of school by parent volunteering for various activities. (So what do they get in return?). Now we are heading to pre-school area. We start with the Gymnasium for the primary students. The big hall is full of equipment for gymnastics, rope climbing and Basket ball hoops. Not spending much time there we move further. I am told that the grades in school are organized from preschool, pre kindergarten, kindergarten and then grade 1 till 12. There are three classrooms (no resemblance with what we have in a typical Indian school) and each opens up in a common lobby area. The classroom has a central table with chairs around it (more like a dining table) where students can dabble with colors or Lego boxes. There is a small enclosed area for role plays where kids are taught about dealing with common situations in life, Tina tells me with extra pride. There is a dummy microwave I guess for today’s role play. A door at one corner opens in the toilets dedicated for the class. Each class has 20-23 students, one teacher along with an assistant. They are also given toilet training she tells me.

As we exit from the classroom I notice every child has a board on the wall to leave his/her creative footprints. They also have a dedicated drawer and a set of mattresses {I wish I had one in my B-school class rooms in India, though I was once offered a pillow by a generous Prof}. The common area has sitting space where kids have their lunch. They are not allowed food from canteen and have to get their packed lunch from home.

The sight of work of art all along the passage is impressive, everything by students, each a mark of their individuality. We now enter another classroom where painting lessons are on. Kids are learning to form different colors by mixing basic colors on the table. One toddler it seems is adamant on not giving up his Lego boxes. Can he afford to be different from rest of the class? (I am reminded of Taare zameen par) As we walk further I can see from window that the area of pre-school is fenced to protect students from going out beyond safe zones for them. However they can see senior students and wave at them. Now we head to the music area. It’s on the first floor. On the way we pass by a group of pre-school students, one of them is Tina’s son, she tells me. A group of students is perhaps practicing choir in the music room I am told. It’s a joint performance by more than 100 students Tina’s eyes shine with pride again (Her son is also one of them I believe).

Now we are heading to the Kindergarten area which is quite similar to the one for pre-school with little bit of shift of focus from playing to more on learning.

Passing by the Kindergarten area we reach the senior school section. A group of student is busy with preparing for a cultural activity. The walls are decorated with impressive artwork (Not to mention all by students). Tina directs me to a big multipurpose hall where a group of standard six students are doing a group discussion. It’s a problem solving exercise I am told by the instructor. When asked a girl (Indian by looks but British by accent) replies with confidence they are discussing possible solutions for Middle East problem (George Bush can take some notes I guessJ). Amused I now enter the Auditorium. Equipped with all audio video aids its just like any other auditorium. The engineer inside me curiously asks the capacity ad Tina is embarrassed for not knowing it. On the way we come across a small group of girls and Tina exchanges a few sentences in dutch with one of them. She later tells me that it was her daughter who studies in standard twelve. I couldn’t stop myself from complimenting her that how young she looks J. (Inner thought - How much tax break Dutch Government offers for baby boomers that can explain the gap of twelve years between her two kids?). We now reach the central lobby area where we started. The PTA notice Board captures my attention. There is a cooking event scheduled for coming week. I am informed that PTA as an Expat forum makes ISA equally important platform for parents as it is for the students. They organize various socializing events for parents which is essential in a foreign country (Well now I can see what motivates parents to volunteer for various school activities).

The tour is almost over; I am not keen on getting drenched again and prefer to skip option of having a look at outdoor facilities that look no unique.

She then passes me forms for after school dance classes and language classes (Hindi and Urdu on the list make me feel proud). I try to explain her how polished and subtle Urdu is and she responds with politeness to make me believe as if she understood what I meant.

I thank Tina and she reminds me to apply (which does not cost anything) as soon as possible considering the waiting they have especially for pre-school. I thank her again and make a move.

Oh I love rain!!