Is There an “Exit” in Education Migration?
Hello everyone, I’m Saori.
It’s been three and a half years since we moved to Penang, Malaysia. My eldest daughter Hikari (7) and son Zen (5) attend an international school, while our youngest Yukari (1.5) is growing at her own pace.
Today, I want to dive into a deeper topic.
The question: “Is there an exit strategy in education migration?”
When we decide to relocate, we tend to paint only a picture of success. But every investment needs an exit line—and education migration is no different. Deciding in advance when and based on what criteria to pull out is what protects your family.
Three Perspectives for Setting an Exit Line
Your Child’s Mental Health Comes First
The most important thing is your child’s emotional well-being.
When Hikari first started at her international school, she couldn’t understand any English. Every morning she cried, saying, “I don’t want to go.” Back then, I had decided that if things didn’t improve after three months, I would consider pulling out. Fortunately, by the fourth month, she was laughing with classmates, and now she jokes around with friends in English.
But if she hadn’t adapted after six months, I was seriously prepared to consider returning to a Japanese school.
I prioritize my child’s feeling that “school is fun.” Even if grades are good, it means nothing if their heart is broken.
Sustainability of Your Household Budget
Next, let’s talk money.
The current exchange rate is 1 MYR = 39.86 JPY (as of June 6, 2026). Compared to when we moved three years ago, the yen has weakened significantly.
Annual tuition at international schools in Penang ranges from about 800,000 to 1.5 million yen per child. For Hikari and Zen, that’s roughly 2 million yen a year. Adding housing and living costs, our total expenses come to around 5 to 7 million yen annually.
My husband and I have set a rule: “If education costs exceed 30% of our annual income, we’ll pull out.” This is because spending too much on education can lower the whole family’s quality of life. Education migration isn’t just for the kids—it’s a family project.
When Educational Quality Falls Short of Expectations
Finally, there’s the quality of education itself.
International schools have completely different curricula and philosophies from Japanese schools. International programs like IB (International Baccalaureate) and IGCSE focus on inquiry-based learning. Instead of rote memorization, they emphasize thinking, researching, and presenting.
If we ever feel, “This isn’t what we expected” or “It doesn’t suit our child,” we’ll consider an exit at that point. Changing schools is an option, but if the educational direction fundamentally doesn’t align, we might even leave Malaysia altogether.
Exiting Is Not “Failure”
In Japan, there’s a sense that “exiting equals failure.” But in education migration, exiting is simply a “change of direction.”
Penang, where we live, has a lower educational intensity compared to KL (Kuala Lumpur). It’s often described as a “balanced market for the mid-to-upper tier” and is considered an optimal starting point for first-time migrants. We’ve spent three years here in Penang carefully observing how our children adapt.
If Hikari or Zen ever seek more advanced education, we might consider moving to top-tier schools like ISKL in KL. Conversely, if Malaysia itself doesn’t suit us, relocating to Singapore, Europe, or the US is also an option.
Our strategy is to gradually upgrade our location while raising the educational level.
Three Concrete Criteria for Our Exit Line
Finally, let me share our family’s specific exit lines.
First: “When our child’s smile disappears.” If they start complaining of stomachaches before school or stop talking about school altogether on weekends, it’s a red flag.
Second: “When education costs exceed 30% of our income.” This is our benchmark if the yen weakens further or our income drops.
Third: “When either parent reaches their limit.” Education migration relies on teamwork as a couple. If one person is constantly sacrificing, it’s not sustainable.
Summary
Education migration is an investment to maximize your child’s human capital. But every investment needs an exit line.
I hope you don’t see “exiting” as negative, but rather as a rational decision to protect your family.
We’re still on our journey. As we watch Hikari, Zen, and Yukari grow, we’ll continue to keep our options flexible.
I hope this serves as a useful reference for anyone considering education migration.
Until next time.
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