International schools

tony001 · 12-06-2007, 04:54 PM

Hi to everyone.
Could anyone be so kind as to give us the in's and out's regarding schooling for kids.I am from the UK and have a 4 year old child.I am looking at Discovery Bay at the moment.What are debentures?
Thank you

Tommyknocker · 12-06-2007, 06:53 PM

Welcome to the wonderful world of HK schools. Debentures are financial instruments that many of the Int'l schools receive from either companies or individuals to "fast track" childrens applications. They basically bump you up the waiting list. Currently they are not a guarantee fo entry. This is not an issue for DB which I think is an ESF school.

timklip · 12-06-2007, 08:24 PM

while esf ed services will open an IS in Discovery Bay in 2008, DBIS is owned by HKRI, the resort company that owns and manages Discovery Bay, and run as a not-for-profit...their premium, non-refundable, non-transferrable debenture (called a capital enhancement fund) is HK$300,000

here's more info

http://www.dbis.edu.hk/management.html

tony001 · 13-06-2007, 07:44 AM

Thank you for the replies.
So the ESF is going to become IS,and IS require debenture,is that right?I still do not understand,why would you have to pay 300k when one has to pay monthly fees.I am confused and pardon my lack of knwledge of the system however if you could please elaborate more.
Thank you

Sleuth · 13-06-2007, 01:17 PM

The debenture is $300K?? Is that a normal amount? I can see this is going to be an issue with my company in a year or so.....

KnowItAll · 13-06-2007, 01:24 PM

Sleuth - Yes $300K is average.

FYI

http://www.geoexpat.com/forum/esf-sc...es-t18602.html

Sleuth · 13-06-2007, 01:30 PM

Very interesting. My son is 13 months old, guess I had better start the research process. Do you just lose the debenture money if you don't get in? If you get in, is it credited to your account or pocketed by the school?

KnowItAll · 13-06-2007, 01:48 PM

Do it quickly.. you don't want him to miss the through train to the Carlyle group via Yale.

Tommyknocker · 13-06-2007, 01:58 PM

A debenture is optional. Just stick him on the wait list - if you do it now he will probably be high up the list. Mind you I have just put my youngest on the list for Kellett in 2010 and he is already 50th in line. Good luck.

timklip · 13-06-2007, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by tony001:

Thank you for the replies.
So the ESF is going to become IS,and IS require debenture,is that right?I still do not understand,why would you have to pay 300k when one has to pay monthly fees.I am confused and pardon my lack of knwledge of the system however if you could please elaborate more.
Thank you

sorry, i should clarify...ESF Educational Services will open a school in DB. Not an IS but part of the ESF group of schools. I understand your confusion...I'm freaking about it too, not now but in about 6 years when I (hopefully) will have school-aged children...to me it seems to be a money grab from a system where, because of the long wait lists, schools can gouge prospective parents who don't want to - or cant - wait...but I am not sure about ESF and debentures...is there such a thing? AFAIK the debentures apply to DBIS and some other IS in Hong Kong