International Baccalaureate An Alternative To ‘A’ Levels
Oct 13, 2002
THE International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme is set to replace ‘A’ levels.
“It is a challenging programme that pushes you to the limits and requires a lot of hard workâ€
By Vision Reporter
THE International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme is set to replace ‘A’ levels. Already popular in Europe the IB has been available in Uganda since 1995.
Lincoln International School of Uganda (LISU) is the only school offering IB in this country.
The programme is offered to secondary students aged 16-19 and middle school students aged 11-16 under theMiddle Years Programme (MYP).
These programmes are administered by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), which is a non-profit educational foundation based in Geneva.
The students sit the final IB diploma examination in six subjects, three at the higher level and three at the Standard level.
In each of these subjects, the maximum score possible is seven points. In addition, students have to submit an extended essay, an essay and do a submission for ‘Theory of Knowledge’, for which they can get a maximum of three points. Thus the maximum score possible in this examination is 45 points.
Parents whose children are benefiting from IB are pleased with the progress.
“The IB programme helped my child develop her critical thinking skills and the ability to do independent research and analysis. Thus she is much better prepared for university life,†says a parent who chose anonymity.
This year 20 LISU students sat for the IB examinations in May, with 15 sitting for the full diploma exams.
LISU’s top student got a score of 43 points, which is higher than 99% of the students who sat this examination world wide. 86% of students who sat for the full diploma examinations passed.
The IB is a recognised pre-university programme leading to examinations for separate subject certificates or the full IB diploma. The curriculum is available in English, French and Spanish, and is usually completed by students in grades 11 and 12 (S5 and S6).
It is broadly based including all of the main subject areas - languages, social studies, experimental sciences, mathematics, and elective subjects.
The IB has proved to be one of the principal success stories in secondary education.
The programme was born of efforts to establish a common curriculum and university entry credential for students moving from one country to another.
International educators were motivated by practical considerations but also by an idealistic vision that students should share an academic experience that would emphasize critical thinking, intercultural understanding and exposure to a variety of points of view.
The IB is acclaimed as an alternative to other ‘A’ level exams such as the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) and the British General School Certificate of Education (GSCE).
“The IB programme is much better as it prepares you better for university. The workload is much higher and you are expected to be more independent and motivated in terms of getting all your work done and submitted,†says Parth Bhuptani, a student at LISU.
Over 1,000 schools in 110 countries offer this challenging programme, which started in 1968. Because the programme represents a common curriculum worldwide, the IB also provides a high degree of continuity for LISU students who transfer from one IB participating school to another.
The IBO’s MYP provides a framework of academic challenge and life skills for students aged 11-16 years. Adopted by IBO in 1994, it serves as excellent preparation for the Diploma Programme.
MYP is offered in 223 schools in 52 countries. Whilst recognising the importance and integrity of each discipline, it emphasises a holistic approach to classroom teaching. Authorised schools are visited and evaluated regularly by IBO.
The largest number of schools offering this programme is in the USA where 387 schools follow the IB curriculum.
Most universities today recognise and value candidates from the IB programme, including universities like Oxford and Cambridge in UK and leading universities in North America.
The Sunday Telegraph (Sunday September 22, 2002) quoted a top government advisor to the education ministry in UK as saying that ‘A’ level exams should be abolished in Britain.
“Within 10 years, there will be a baccalaureate type structure,†he said. At present there are 49 schools in UK offering the IB curriculum and the number is likely to rise. Ends
By Vision Reporter
THE International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme is set to replace ‘A’ levels. Already popular in Europe the IB has been available in Uganda since 1995.
Lincoln International School of Uganda (LISU) is the only school offering IB in this country.
The programme is offered to secondary students aged 16-19 and middle school students aged 11-16 under theMiddle Years Programme (MYP).
These programmes are administered by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), which is a non-profit educational foundation based in Geneva.
The students sit the final IB diploma examination in six subjects, three at the higher level and three at the Standard level.
In each of these subjects, the maximum score possible is seven points. In addition, students have to submit an extended essay, an essay and do a submission for ‘Theory of Knowledge’, for which they can get a maximum of three points. Thus the maximum score possible in this examination is 45 points.
Parents whose children are benefiting from IB are pleased with the progress.
“The IB programme helped my child develop her critical thinking skills and the ability to do independent research and analysis. Thus she is much better prepared for university life,†says a parent who chose anonymity.
This year 20 LISU students sat for the IB examinations in May, with 15 sitting for the full diploma exams.
LISU’s top student got a score of 43 points, which is higher than 99% of the students who sat this examination world wide. 86% of students who sat for the full diploma examinations passed.
The IB is a recognised pre-university programme leading to examinations for separate subject certificates or the full IB diploma. The curriculum is available in English, French and Spanish, and is usually completed by students in grades 11 and 12 (S5 and S6).
It is broadly based including all of the main subject areas - languages, social studies, experimental sciences, mathematics, and elective subjects.
The IB has proved to be one of the principal success stories in secondary education.
The programme was born of efforts to establish a common curriculum and university entry credential for students moving from one country to another.
International educators were motivated by practical considerations but also by an idealistic vision that students should share an academic experience that would emphasize critical thinking, intercultural understanding and exposure to a variety of points of view.
The IB is acclaimed as an alternative to other ‘A’ level exams such as the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) and the British General School Certificate of Education (GSCE).
“The IB programme is much better as it prepares you better for university. The workload is much higher and you are expected to be more independent and motivated in terms of getting all your work done and submitted,†says Parth Bhuptani, a student at LISU.
Over 1,000 schools in 110 countries offer this challenging programme, which started in 1968. Because the programme represents a common curriculum worldwide, the IB also provides a high degree of continuity for LISU students who transfer from one IB participating school to another.
The IBO’s MYP provides a framework of academic challenge and life skills for students aged 11-16 years. Adopted by IBO in 1994, it serves as excellent preparation for the Diploma Programme.
MYP is offered in 223 schools in 52 countries. Whilst recognising the importance and integrity of each discipline, it emphasises a holistic approach to classroom teaching. Authorised schools are visited and evaluated regularly by IBO.
The largest number of schools offering this programme is in the USA where 387 schools follow the IB curriculum.
Most universities today recognise and value candidates from the IB programme, including universities like Oxford and Cambridge in UK and leading universities in North America.
The Sunday Telegraph (Sunday September 22, 2002) quoted a top government advisor to the education ministry in UK as saying that ‘A’ level exams should be abolished in Britain.
“Within 10 years, there will be a baccalaureate type structure,†he said. At present there are 49 schools in UK offering the IB curriculum and the number is likely to rise. Ends