Why you should choose an international school

By Gloria Nakajubi

The value parents and experts attach to international schools makes them important. The schools are no longer a preserve of expatriates and the wealthy. A parent of one of the international schools says she will give up just about anything to have her child acquire such education because it provides students with unlimited opportunities.

With over 40 years of experience in teaching, James Park, the head teacher of Hillside High School, which offers the Cambridge curriculum, gives an expert view on why an international curriculum is preferable.

He says the different curricula of international schools are revised often to make them more relevant to the dynamics of the world. This is done from two to three years. Park says their books are equally updated often and samples distributed to schools in time to help them decide whether to adopt them or not. One can never underestimate the vast exposure that comes with studying in an international school and as the seasoned educationist explains, international schools get to accommodate students of different nationalities and cultures.

As Park further explains, the learning process in international schools is more engaging and practical. This is made possible by the small class sizes often characteristic of these schools as compared to local schools. The smaller class sizes enable a better student-teacher ratio, which in turn ensures individual attention to the students’ developmental needs.

International schools are not exam oriented and encourage self-learning and research geared towards nurturing critical and independent thinking while building the strength of character. “We believe in empowering students to have independent views in everything they study other than sitting back and absorbing what is being taught in class,” he says. The Dean of the School of Education, Makerere University, Dr Betty Ezati, argues that parents take their students to international schools for quite a number of reasons, which may vary from one parent to another.

She says with most parents opting for universities abroad, it is very likely that they would choose to offer their children an international background in international schools. It is now widely accepted that opportunities for students after international school are tremendous with the top universities the world over consistently competing for the best students. There are about 15 international schools in Uganda, with many following the Cambridge curriculum.

Globally, the market for international schools is predicted to see significant growth, according to the recent statistics from the International School Consultancy Group (ISC).

International schools may reach up to 7,200, teaching over 3.7 million students in English by the end of the year. The sector’s growth over the past 10 years, according to the study is directly related to demand for quality education and more buying power among middle classes. There are 350,000 fully qualified teachers working in international schools globally and that number is anticipated to rise to 500,000 by 2020.  

Galaxy educates thinkers, innovators  

By Conan Businge

Galaxy International School Uganda (GISU) is a co-educational school in Lubowa, 10 kilometres from Kampala, on the Kampala-Entebbe Road. The school now has a new branch in Jinja on the Walukuba/Scott Road near Nile International Hospital. The school provides international education to students between two and 19 years of age using a studentcentred curriculum.

Emphasis is on the development of the whole person. Students in years 10 and 11 are prepared for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examination and those in years 12 and 13 are prepared for Cambridge A’level examination. These examinations administered by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) are recognised worldwide.

Ownership

The school is privately owned with a Board of Governors and is managed by a principal. It has qualified and experienced staff from UK, USA, Canada, Europe and East Africa. Galaxy International provides a safe and caring learning environment where students are challenged to make use of their potential and integrate it into a multicultural world community. According to the academic director of Turkish schools, Hakki Aydin, it serves international education with a qualified native and international teaching staff.

Hakki adds that: “A student of Galaxy International School Uganda will develop into a caring, innovative and reflective thinker who will take into consideration environmental protection. “The child will be nurtured to be open minded, knowledgeable, inquisitive and morally upright in order to prepare for the challenging future,” he adds. The school has students from over 50 countries speaking many different native languages.

This enables them to build friendships with peers from many parts of the world. Most of their parents are business people, staff of embassies, United Nations or other international organisations. It also provides students with a wide range of extracurricular and after-school club activities which are done by professional trainers and coaches.

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Galaxy Intertnational School of Uganda, Jinja campus

New trends

The growing desire to send local children to international schools is based on their quality of teaching and learning, coupled with the recognition by local wealthy families of the value of an English-medium education. In Uganda, there are about 3,000 students in international schools. In 2000, there were 2,584 international schools in the world teaching about one million students.

Today, that number stands at 5,676 international schools teaching over 2.5 million students, according to research by ISC, an independent organisation dedicated to mapping the world’s international schools and analysing developments in the market.

Boarding section

Galaxy International has started a boarding section, the first of its kind in an international school, which puts it ahead of all the others.

Research has shown that children in boarding school are more independent. Additionally, the educational foundation provided by this intensive form of training provides a springboard to greater opportunities in education. Hakki says a number of parents in Uganda are increasingly seeking schools, which can easily open opportunities for their children in higher education abroad; a reason they send their children to international schools.

International schooling

Galaxy International’s start followed the establishment of a nursery, primary and secondary schools; which as of today have a population of 1,200 students.

Although some international schools employ very few local teachers, in the Turkish schools in Uganda, there are 100 Ugandan teachers, doubling the number of Turkish teachers who are only 50. There are only nine international teachers with 77 non-teaching staff members in the Turkish schools

Integrity is key  at Kabojja

  By Andrew Masinde

Kabojja International School (KIS)’s priority is to unlock each learner’s full academic potential. Learners are encouraged to develop their leadership skills with integrity. The director, Administration, Sam Turya, says the school follows a British curriculum relevant to the country’s multi-national student community right from primary level to high school. “The school offers unrivalled facilities and a breath of opportunities in its own beautiful home away from the commotion of town but well within range of benefits of the capital city.

The learners benefit from studying in a serene and secure environment,” Turya explains. This is in addition to professional and a dedicated teaching staff. “Our aim is to encourage wellrounded individuals and build confidence in their own abilities, harness the determination to achieve their potential and optimism to embrace challenges and change,” he adds.

Background

The school is in Buziga – Mulalamula RoadIt is a private coeducational school offering a British curriculum IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) and GCE (General Certificate of Education). It is both day and boarding and draws students from East Africa and the Great Lakes Region. It has over 300 international students from over 21 countries.

Curriculum

Learners in lower secondary/Cambridge Secondary 1 offer a number of subjects which introduce them to the main curriculum content of the middle secondary. After achieving a relatively sound foundation, teachers guide the learners in year 9 to select suitable subjects for IGCSE Year 10. Learners in Middle Secondary/ Cambridge Secondary 2 (Year 10 and 11) normally take eight subjects.

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Kabojja students on graduation day

Upper Secondary/Cambridge Advanced Level Programmes

GCE, AS, AICE – diplomas and Cambridge Pre-University provide opportunities for admission into major universities. The programme is ideal for learners wishing to pursue higher education within and outside Africa.

Sports

The school has strong teams in football, basketball and swimming. Tae Kwondo has also been introduced.

Facilities

They have a modern resource centre with fast internet, a good science laboratory, classrooms of not more than 20 learners. Resident learners are accommodated in exquisite boarding houses rather than traditional dormitories.

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Kabojja International School (KIS)

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