I was having breakfast with a friend in a coffee shop and next to us were a group of people about my age talking about their kid’s education ... both my friend and I heard them talking about sending their kids to overseas universities for further studies.
Then my friend asked me ... “Eh, where are you sending your kids to?” I looked at him and asked ... “You mean going overseas to study?” He said ... “Yes, which country?” Within a few milliseconds I replied ... “Here ... in Subang, Malaysia!!!”
Our conversation went on about the need for children’s education, we talked on the subject for a while and then he said to me ... “Come on, you can send your kids overseas ... why not?”
So the question is ... can I send my kids to study overseas?
Yes I can ... maybe I have to make a few financial decisions which will probably affect some of my life decisions and with a bit of prudence, yes I can let my kids study overseas.
Now the next question ... do I need to send my kids to study overseas? My answer is NO.
My point is ... why popular universities in USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China and a few other countries are affiliating with local universities and setting up their campuses here?
They are here to cater for parents like me ... these universities came here to provide education facilities so that average parents like me don’t have to dig deep into the pockets to pay for good education for our children. That means average parent like me don’t have to make financial decisions that will somehow demote their life decisions.
Don’t get me wrong ... I am not against people sending their
kids to study overseas. Many are financially successful so they don’t have any
problems sending their kids to the best universities around the world. A good
friend of mine told me he will have to spend a million and a half dollars to send both his
kids to UK for tertiary education ... he has no problem with it.
And then there are people who worked very hard, struggled and
saved for the whole life so that they can send their kids to study overseas
... they did it at the expense of their own well being. I admire the sacrifices
they made ... they must have their own reasons why they are willing to do so
and I respect that.
For me to send both my kids overseas to study, I will have
to sell my house and move into a smaller apartment ... I will also have to use
quite a bit of my savings and cut down on our normal living expenses. That
means both my wife and I will not be living as comfortable as we want to be.
So, call me a selfish father or call me stingy ... I am not going to send my
kids to study overseas. I will not make this financial decision that will adversely
affect an essential part my life.
For me and maybe some parents like me ... I don’t see the need
to send my kids to study overseas. There are already a lot of good education
institutions here that provide a very wide of education courses and programs.
As a matter of fact ... parents from countries in the region are sending
their kids here to study. For all you know, some of these parents are a lot
wealthier than you thought.
And to my son and daughter ... guys, I have to make a life decision rather than a financial decision here ... so, I am not giving you the best the world can offer but I will give you the best I can afford ... you guys will have to make do with it.
