Cities / Johor Bahru / Fairview International School Johor Bahru
Fairview International School Johor Bahru
The Johor Bahru campus of Fairview International School, opened 2008 as the first IB World School in southern Malaysia and on a permanent purpose-built campus in Bandar Dato' Onn since 2014. PYP and MYP for around 350 pupils aged 4 to 16.
In brief
The Johor Bahru campus of Fairview International School, opened 2008, and the first IB World School in southern Malaysia, with a permanent purpose-built campus in Bandar Dato' Onn since 2014.
Fairview as a group dates back to 1978 in Kuala Lumpur. The Johor campus runs IB Primary Years Programme (PYP authorised 2013) and Middle Years Programme (MYP authorised 2012), serving roughly 350 pupils aged 4 to 16. Head is Kanchan Mary Shrestha.
Parents who back the IB approach speak warmly of the teaching: friendly, dedicated staff who push independent learning over rote memorisation, regular feedback on progress, and strong character development. The complaints are consistent enough to flag honestly. Some families describe limited classroom space, non-permanent teaching staff, and a strong push for parent donations and fundraising on top of fees, with refunds reportedly hard to negotiate. Best fit for families committed to PYP and MYP and willing to manage the operational rough edges.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Reception (PYP) | 4 | MYR 28,000 |
| Year 1 - 2 (PYP) | 5 | MYR 30,000 |
| Year 3 (PYP) | 7 | MYR 35,000 |
| Year 4 (PYP) | 8 | MYR 39,000 |
| Year 5 (PYP) | 9 | MYR 44,000 |
| MYP (Years 6-10) | 11 | MYR 38,000 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application | MYR 1,000 | |
| Enrolment (PYP) | MYR 2,500 | |
| Enrolment (MYP) | MYR 5,000 |
Reviews
- The Johor Bahru campus has a more polarised public profile than the Wangsa Maju flagship. Parent reviews are largely positive, but parent-side criticism on management is sharper here.
- Positive parents cite IB teaching and communication. One wrote that "teachers are friendly and dedicated" and that ClassDojo helps parents follow performance. Another said their child's English improved significantly.
- Critical reviews cluster on three themes. Limited classroom space and "non-permanent teachers" come up repeatedly. Donation requests are a separate complaint, with one parent saying the school "frequently asks for donations and contributions".
- A subset of parents flag transparency and tone. Parents allege management treats dissenting parents and teachers poorly and focuses excessively on enrolment and profit. These are parent claims rather than verified findings, but they appear consistently across multiple parent reviews.
- No parent chatter on the Johor Bahru campus specifically surfaces in public discussions. The parent signal that does exist relates to the network as a whole, not this campus, so the local picture sits on parent review pages.
- Net: the IB teaching draws praise; the management and infrastructure side is where the negatives cluster.
Positives
- IB teaching. Parents who like the school cite friendly, dedicated IB teachers and clear parent-school communication
Considerations
- Facilities and teacher continuity. Limited classroom space and non-permanent teachers are recurring complaints on this campus
- Management and transparency. Parents flag frequent donation requests and concerns about how dissent is handled
Leadership
Kanchan Mary Shrestha
Kanchan Mary Shrestha (Pradhan) is the Principal of Fairview International School Johor Bahru. She focuses on building a nurturing environment where students feel supported, encouraged, and confident to express themselves. By guiding both academic and personal growth, she helps shape a learning experience that prepares students for future challenges and opportunities. She is an experienced educator and psychosocial counselor with a background in IBPYP and MYP facilitation.
Accreditations
- MY_JNJK 01
Academic results
- IB ranking Top 80 worldwide (3 consecutive years)
Location
Lot PTD 168450, Jalan Dato' Onn Utama, Bandar Dato' Onn, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia