Amid the Shift Away from Public Schools, the IB Course Shines
Hello everyone, it’s Saori. I’ve been living in Penang, Malaysia for three and a half years, raising three children while sharing the real story of international schools.
The other day, I came across an interesting news article. It said that due to free high school tuition, more students are moving away from public schools, and the competition rates for public high schools in Tokyo are steadily dropping. Yet, amid this trend, the IB course at Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School is attracting exceptional popularity.
At first glance, this might seem like a story about just one school in Tokyo, but it actually offers valuable insights for those of us considering education migration.
Why Is Only the IB Course at Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School So Popular?
The IB course at Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School isn’t seeing a decline in competition rates—it’s actually on the rise. The reason is clear: the International Baccalaureate (IB) offers a powerful advantage for university admissions worldwide.
IB isn’t just a curriculum. It’s a qualification that assesses critical thinking, inquiry skills, English expression, and—most importantly—meets global standards. Even if you graduate from a Japanese high school, having an IB opens doors to prestigious universities abroad.
My eldest daughter, Hikari (Grade 2), and eldest son, Zen (Kindergarten), are also learning through inquiry-based methods—the foundation of IB—at their international school in Penang. Classes start with “why?” and involve researching and presenting findings. It’s a completely different approach from Japan’s rote-learning style.
The IB Popularity Reflects Structural Issues in Japan’s Education System
The popularity of the IB course at Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School, in a way, reflects parents’ recognition that “ordinary public high schools in Japan don’t prepare students for the global stage.”
Even if free high school tuition reduces the financial burden, it’s meaningless if the core education content doesn’t keep up with international standards. Wealthy business owners likely feel this structural issue firsthand.
This is precisely one of the reasons I decided to move to Malaysia. No matter how much money you spend in Japan, the education system itself is out of sync with global standards. So, I thought, why not place ourselves in an environment with an international curriculum from the start?
The Option of IB Schools in Malaysia
Getting into the IB course at Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School is extremely competitive, even within Tokyo. Given the competition rate, admission can feel like a matter of luck.
But what about international schools in Malaysia? Even in Penang alone, there are multiple IB-accredited schools, including well-established ones like Uplands.
In terms of cost, attending an international school in Malaysia offers better value than a private IB school in Tokyo. Based on the latest exchange rate (1 MYR = 40.07 JPY as of May 2, 2026), annual tuition at an international school in Penang ranges from approximately $10,000 to $16,500 USD. In contrast, private international schools in Tokyo cost between $13,300 and $26,600 USD per year—a significant difference.
Plus, in Malaysia, children grow up in an English-speaking environment while experiencing multiculturalism. This provides invaluable experience for developing the “international perspective” that IB emphasizes—something you can’t get just inside a classroom.
The Essence of Education Investment Lies in an “Exit Strategy”
The IB course at Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School is popular because the “exit” is clear. Earning an IB qualification allows students to directly apply to universities not only in Japan but also in Singapore, the UK, Australia, and the US.
The same applies to education migration. It’s not about “going abroad for the sake of it”; you need an exit strategy that looks ahead to your child’s future.
In our case, we’re focusing on building a strong IB foundation in Penang, with the possibility of moving to a top-tier school like ISKL in Kuala Lumpur later. Beyond that, universities in Europe and the US are also on the table.
This is what’s called a phased migration strategy—you don’t have to get everything perfect at once. You upgrade the educational environment as your child grows. To me, this feels far more realistic than betting everything on a single shot at the IB course at Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School.
Inquiry-Based Education from Early Childhood Is Key
Another news article I saw mentioned that an international school in Wakayama Prefecture is strengthening inquiry-based education from early childhood. Even within Japan, more schools are beginning to recognize the value of IB.
However, schools that can fully implement inquiry-based learning from early childhood are still limited. At international schools in Malaysia, this style of learning is standard from age three. Both Hikari and Zen naturally develop English skills and critical thinking through a “learning through play” approach.
My youngest daughter, Yukari, is only one and a half and not yet in school, but knowing she’ll grow up in the same environment gives me confidence that the return on our education investment will be substantial.
Conclusion: Education Migration Is Not a Luxury, but a Rational Choice
The popularity of the IB course at Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School reflects the wealthy’s sense of crisis that “Japan’s education system doesn’t measure up globally.” And choosing IB as a solution is an extremely rational decision.
However, rather than trying to squeeze through a narrow gate in Tokyo, I believe choosing an environment in Malaysia that suits your child from a wider range of options ultimately expands their potential.
Education migration isn’t a “luxury”; it’s a rational hedge against Japan’s structural risks. Malaysia, where you can learn the globally recognized IB curriculum at a lower cost and in a more natural setting, is, in my daily experience, the ideal first step.
Why not take a moment to consider what options are available when you look ahead to your child’s educational “exit”?
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