According to new figures from an international schools research group, Africa’s international schools market is set to enter a period of significant growth. Over the next ten years ISC Research, part of the International Schools Consultancy, predicts that the current figure of over 700 English-medium international schools could swell to over 1,518 international schools in Africa and teaching over 625,000 students by 2025.An analysis of the African international schools market by ISC was presented at the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA) Conference 2015 in Cape Town last month.Dr Peter Bateman, Executive Director of AISA, says that as the economies of African countries have developed the appeal of an international school education to local families has grown alongside. “The globally recognised, internationally accredited curricula offered in AISA member schools is clearly an attraction for both local and expatriate families,” says Mr Bateman.Research from ISC backs up the claims and there is evidence that more than half of the students attending AISA member schools today are local children.Dr Bateman believes that future higher education ambitions for local families are one of the biggest driving forces behind the significant sector growth. “Quality education that better enables graduates to find places in colleges and universities, both locally and abroad, is a key factor why an increasing number of local families are sending their children to international schools,” says Dr Bateman.A British curriculum is a popular choice of learning delivery in a vast majority of international schools in Africa, in fact 82 per cent of schools within the AISA group offer a British curriculum to students. See the recent article Challenges of an African Education