Education is an investment that provides a firm foundation for the future and the better the quality of education, the higher the chances are of securing an enriching or fulfilling future, which is what parents are probably looking to afford for their child or ward, according to the asset management arm of FBN Holdings, FBNQuest.
Parenting, according to the Lagos-based company, is like putting someone’s life, cares and burdens over oneself, consistently for the reward that takes the form of an indescribable love when parents look at their children.
The desire by parents to give their children everything that they never had and more, while always thinking about their best interests and preparing for their future is the path of parenting that often leads them to make the move to prepare their children for a study abroad.
Explaining that affording quality education for a child is easier said than done, especially if a parent is considering education in a foreign country, FBNQuest said it gets easier with the right plan and preparation ahead of time.
Below are some of the few helpful tips FBNQuest outlined for every parent preparing their child for education abroad.
Create a checklist
Firstly, it said parents will need to make a list of every requirement for their child’s education abroad. From information about the school and region they are considering to requirements for the study and immigration, it said parents would need to consider everything before their child leaves and tick the boxes once each task is completed.
This, according to FBNQuest will help them in keeping track of their progress and serve as a record of their activities. “So, you would not miss anything important. This list should include timelines, deadlines, cost implications, long and short-term steps.”
Review the region, school and course of study
The next step is for parents to work with their children to determine what their plans and aspirations are and guide them through choosing courses as they prepare them mentally for the journey.
“Also, work with them to choose schools that offer courses related to their shared plans. Please note that Ivy league schools for example are not in the same financial category as state universities. These are factors that you should consider as a parent or guardian when you are making school choices with your child/ward,” it said.
Make emotional and physical preparations
Once the parents have decided to send their ward abroad to study, FBNquest said they need to prepare them emotionally and physically. By this, the Lagos-based asset management firm said they need to prepare them to be independent, to be able to be away from home, to be able to make spur of the moment decisions without consulting their parents.
“Also teach them how to be financially independent. They need to know how to budget, plan and spend without you looking over their shoulders. Prepare them emotionally to be goal-oriented and remember where they find themselves, there is a goal and their eyes should always be on the ball.”
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Register for external examinations
Parents would need to register their ward for some external examinations as a couple of external examinations are a prerequisite for admissions in most Western countries.
While these exams differ by country sometimes and by the school too, there is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Test de connaissance du français (TCF) and Test d’Evaluation (TEF) for Francophone countries, International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) for the United Kingdom, American College Test (ACT) and Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) for the United States of America, Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH) and German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) for Germany just to mention a few.
According to FBNQuest, parents need to ensure their child is prepared for these exams and that their results meet the criteria provided by the alternatives parents have both decided on.
Get the required documents
For students from Nigeria to be able to go outside the shores of the country, there is an extensive list of documents that is required.
Some of the documents as listed by FBNQuest include a passport. This travel document is important because it is needed for them to be able to leave the country.
A Student Visa is another important document on the list gathered by the asset management company. It said it allows the student to live abroad for a specified period. “Each country has a different application process. You can visit the school’s website for the embassy or consulate of the country they are travelling to. They should provide you with all the necessary details you need for the visa application process.”
Schedule a health check
While some schools and visa application processes make health and medical checks mandatory, FBNQuest advised parents planning to send their wards abroad for studies to schedule doctor visits before their ward leaves.
“Ensure your child is in good health and can take care of themselves or manage a health condition on their own. In cases where the child has pre-existing medical conditions, be sure to inform the school and make accommodation choices based on proximity to clinics and or weather information and convenience. Ensure to also get a health insurance cover that will step in if they need it,” it said.
Make funding arrangements
Securing citizenships, visas, enabling environments via vacations are fantastic and being proactive, however, FBNQuest said it would be prudent for parents to start planning financially even before the child is born. This is because proactive planning will help them save money, take away the pressure, prepare them and their child for the future and generate dividends for the present.
“You can consider the products offered by FBNQuest that support children’s education such as the FBN Children Education Trust and the FBN Education Endowment Plan,” it recommended.
