When people hear that La Petite Ecole Ho Chi Minh is a French school, they assume this means it teaches the French language. While this is true, there is much more to it. Educating students in French and English from Kindergarten through Primary (ages 1–11), the bilingual school adheres to the French National Curriculum established by France’s Ministry of Education. This instills an analytical mindset and a confident, empathetic outlook that transcends any singular language. The value of these skills and traits is reflected in the student population. Half of the students come from families without a single French parent, suggesting that a French education is about far more than merely being able to speak French.

Critical Thinking that Allows Students to Understand Better

“Of course, you need knowledge, but knowledge to do what?” said Bertrand Malifarges, the new Headmaster of La Petite Ecole Ho Chi Minh, when explaining to Saigoneer what constitutes a French education. “You have to be able to think based on this knowledge.”

Bertrand Malifarges, Headmaster of La Petite Ecole.

As a French school adhering to the curriculum established by France’s Ministry of Education, La Petite Ecole follows state-developed frameworks and objectives for conventional subject areas, including mathematics, literacy, sciences, arts, and citizenship. The school’s educational philosophy means that “The French Curriculum does not aim to produce students who know more, but students who understand better,” Bertrand noted.

Critical thinking and a self-motivated search for the reasons behind answers underpins this school’s educational philosophy. Students consider answers and their reasons in the context of history, culture, and art through an open-ended humanist lens, according to Mary Malifarges, La Petite Ecole’s Pedagogical Advisor. Reflection and analysis are stressed alongside the ability to argue one’s viewpoints via written essays, as opposed to tests that simply require memorization.

The Importance of Kindergarten

"In the French education system, kindergarten is a crucial stage,” Mary said when asked how La Petite Ecole differs from the other western education options in Saigon. “It is based on a structured programme of skills to be acquired while also fostering self-confidence and a positive attitude toward mistakes, which are seen as a normal and necessary part of learning,” she continued.

Mary Malifarges, La Petite Ecole’s Pedagogical Advisor.

Bertrand shared an anecdote of his time working to establish a French school in Iraq that underscores the importance of kindergarten in France’s educational approach. The Iraqi Minister of Education was shocked when Bertrand assigned his three most experienced French teachers to the kindergarten. Mary explained that this decision is completely in line with her understanding that the first seven years of a child’s life are “the most important for the development of the child; and before five, it's huge.”

The Power of a Global Community

La Petite Ecole further sets itself apart in the Saigon international education landscape by its inclusion in the Agency for French Education Abroad (AFEA), a network of 600 French institutions across 138 countries. Students can seamlessly transition from and into any of these schools and continue the French curriculum without interruption. This allows families a great degree of flexibility and security; parents who move frequently can be confident there will always be a reputable French school for their children to attend. “Families today are not only choosing a school — they are choosing an educational pathway.”

The AFEA network includes Saigon’s French high school, Lycée français international Marguerite-Duras, which many La Petite Ecole graduates attend. But even if students post-La Petite Ecole transition to schools outside of the French curriculum, they are prepared for success. As Mary explained, the philosophy of La petite ecole that stresses creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, along with soft skills like confidence and determination, will be reflected in programs like the International Baccalaureate.

A Truly Bilingual Education

While adhering to the French curriculum, there is freedom to adapt to the needs of the school and students. At La Petite Ecole, this means a fully bilingual education with half of the classes taught in French and half in English, both by native speakers. While it may seem daunting to learn two or even three languages at once, the science proves students are not only capable but actually learn better when given the opportunity to develop more than one language simultaneously. Doing so establishes the neural pathways that promote lifelong flexibility for not just learning languages, but learning in general, as well as the empathy that comes with being able to enter more conversations and cultures.

To keep pace with the rigorous academic expectations, the lesson materials are not repeated in both languages, but rather alternate while moving forward. To accomplish this, pairs of teachers must work closely to ensure their classrooms coordinate precisely, with all core subjects, including math, science, and art, taught in both French and English. Similarly, La Petite Ecole prides itself on the necessary collaboration amongst teachers and families. This close, committed community ensures that professional monitoring of students can take place as well. Mary stressed that students’ emotional and mental well-being must be ensured alongside high achievement, which is only possible by closely observing each child and responding to their individual needs. Bertrand noted that “Academic success and well-being are not competing priorities — children learn best when both grow together.”

Being able to not just speak but think across languages is likely to prove incredibly useful in the exciting, uncertain decades ahead. Anchored by the French Curriculum and open to anyone, La Petite Ecole could be the perfect environment for students who don’t just know a lot, but understand a lot. Interested families can contact the school to arrange a visit to see the learning in action and decide if it's a good fit for their children.