Antananarivo - Post Report Question and Answers
Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
After school programs at ASA. Many folks at post have younger kids and use local preschools- either French or English speaking. Seem happy with what they are getting. - Jun 2016
Yes. The American School charges $10,000+ for preschool, so many parents opt for the French-based schools that are more affordable. - Oct 2015
Most people send their preschool-age children either to the Early Childhood Center (ECC) at the American School or to Kids Academy (where instruction is primarily in French). The ECC is a bit expensive, so Americans tend to use it only for Pre-K and above. We have a child in Pre-K at ASA, and he has made great friends and is enjoying his time there. There is only very minimal foreign language (e.g. French) instruction, since most of the children are learning English for the first time. Kids' Academy is much, much cheaper, and all of the children I have known who go there (and there are many expat kids who go) have learned a great deal of French. It is more like a really nice daycare. Based on comments of friends who have their children there, I would say that if your child is under age 4, this is an ideal setting. - Apr 2013
There are good private preschools available, francophone and anglophone. Jaques Prevert, Kids Academy and the American International School (has a nursery section). I used Jaques Prevert and found it good, although travel time is terrible to get there. Then I used Kids Academy (new school very close to our home) and found it really good too. - Dec 2008
