Not the end of the road yet

It was reported on Friday that the International School of Central Switzerland was about to close as a result of financial problems. However now it seems all is not lost after the appointment of a new headmaster and support from parents.

When the ISCS was founded in 2009 under the leadership of Jaqueline Webb, the long-term aim was to lure as many as 300 pupils, each able to take international examinations with fees some CHF 1,000 cheaper than the competition. However, at present there are 120 pupils, not 100 as previously reported.

Three weeks ago, teacher Kamran Baig (in the centre in the photograph) took over running the school. When he was asked where his predecessor Webb was, he confirmed she was taking some time out and handed over responsibility to him at this difficult time. “She was wonderful teacher and put great effort and energy into running the school but less able when it came to business,” said the British national.

It was last week that one parent of pupil at the school claimed she had been informed by letter about the school’s precarious financial situation, i.e. that it was in debt and was not in a position to pay teachers’ salaries, and hence pupils would soon no longer be able to be taught there. “Fortunately, the current situation is not quite so bad,” said Baig. “We have been able to pay the teachers’ November salaries and lessons will continue until the start of Christmas holidays,” as he also expressed confidence the school would re-open in January. “What we do not want to have to do have to look closely at our finances each month.”

When asked how this situation had come about, not least when the school charges between CHF 15,000 and CHF 30,000 per year in fees, Baig explained that, with plans to expand the school, it  had rented an adjacent site and taken on more staff. However, not as many pupils as expected had been enrolled, a situation caused, he thought, through international companies no longer prepared to pay school fees for the children of their employees. It was only recently that it became clear the school’s finances were becoming precarious. “We had someone to look after finances, but never anyone full-time,” he explained. “This was a mistake,” he admitted, while emphasising that it was only recently that they had discovered how bad things were. In saying this, he was also responding to the complaint of one parent, who was angry that the school had taken on her son in summer, “knowing that the school was facing bankruptcy”, which was not the case. This parent has already found an alternative school for her son, “one of only a few cases of this sort”, the International School of Zug and Lucerne confirming it was prepared to help wherever possible.

Baig has brought together the support of seven other parents, one of whom is the economist Achilles Jost (on the right in the photograph). The latter mentioned that his son had initially attended a state school but felt he was not pushed enough, whereas at the ISCS he really began to flourish. “This is why I am helping to assure it can stay up and running,” he said. He went on to say that they have written to all parents asking if they might make a CHF 5,000 contribution to the school (per pupil) before the end of the academic year. Apparently, half of all parents have already agreed to this. Then, an association to save it has also been set up. In the long term the school is looking to find an investor, “but only one who supports the type of education we offer”.

As reported on Friday, the canton’s education authority is aware of the situation, as director Stephan Schleiss confirmed. He mentioned that, while they look to ensure standards are adhered to, they have no access to the financial situation of private schools. Some 50 of the pupils at the ISCS have a right to be placed in cantonal schools, a situation he felt they could cope with.

The photograph also shows (on the left) David Longo, who has a child at the school.