THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JUNE 2019
PRIVATE & INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Finding the perfect school
By SRIMAYEE SEN SARMA
ONE daunting task of parenthood is finding
the best school for your children, especially
in a country like Malaysia where there are
hundreds of options to choose from. This is a
country that offers five different schooling
systems, namely public, religious, home,
private and international, with each system
boasting sub-systems and a long list of
options.
International schools alone number more
than 141, offering a range of curricula,
including Canadian, Indian, Singaporean,
American, Australian and British. Hence,
how do parents in Malaysia choose schools
for their children? Is it just curriculum or are
there other factors that contribute to their
final decision? How should parents go about
choosing the right school?
Private and International School Guide
seeks to find these answers.
The deciding factors for parents
According to Helen Prior, founder of
SchoolSelect Malaysia and independent
school consultant, the first thing that most
parents look for in a school is the quality of
teaching and learning.
“With so many new international schools
popping up over the last two to three years,
the schools’ track record of academic results
has become one of the most important
deciding factors for many parents. Hence,
nowadays they would look for more
established schools that have proven track
records.”
From her experience, Prior has noticed
that parents, especially expatriates, want a
school that will fully support their child as
they settle into their new school lives. Quality
of pastoral care is considered highly
Shaping future minds
AS we move through the technological era,
we see our world changing. Some
opportunities have vanished while others
appear in different forms. We are more
connected and have become more
competitive. This makes us think about the
future we want for our children.
Beaconhouse understands the
importance of providing the best learning
environment for your child to prepare
them for the 21st century, while still
instilling traditional values.
With a presence in eight countries,
Beaconhouse is one of the largest school
networks in the world. It has been
providing academic excellence for the past
43 years and now has more than 300,000
students globally. Parents wanting a holistic
quality education for their children can
look no further as Beaconhouse is
committed to developing students who are
socially responsible, resilient and active
citizens of the world. Beaconhouse strives
to nurture students to have an international
outlook with Asian values.
The Beaconhouse experience
Its learning experience is designed to
encompass both depth and breadth. Its
focus remains in developing its students in
the fullest possible sense. Built upon its long
history of academic achievements and
supported by a wide range of curricula,
Beaconhouse students have the opportunity
to experience the wider world.
This enables students to achieve their
intellectual potential and improve their
If your child is talented or shows interest in an extracurricular activity, ensure the school you
choose has facilities and services that aim to nurture that talent.
important, followed by exposure to sports,
music and other enrichment opportunities.
“Location is another important factor
parents consider when choosing a school,
because the traffic in and around Kuala
Lumpur can be terrible,” she adds.
Trying to find a school that suits the child,
ticks all the right boxes, is close to a suitable
housing area and not too far from the
parents’ workplaces, can prove to be a
challenge. However, above everything else,
Prior believes that parents’ decisions have
been mostly child-centred.
“If their child is good at sports, parents
would look for a school with outstanding
opportunities that can nurture the young
one to excel at her chosen sport.”
There are also Malaysian parents who
prospects beyond school. Its trained, caring
and highly motivated teachers provide
effective teaching, while still giving students
personal attention, advice and support.
Beaconhouse offers well-resourced
classrooms, libraries, computer and science
labs, art studios and sports facilities. Its
sports complex at Sri Inai International
School includes facilities for futsal,
basketball, volleyball and badminton, as
well as an impressive six-lane swimming
pool. Beaconhouse also strives to
incorporate technology to enhance its
pedagogy.
Beaconhouse aims to provide a balance
between academics and extracurricular
activities to develop well-rounded
individuals. It offers a variety of activities,
clubs and societies for students to choose
from, including badminton, athletics, tae
kwon do, Chinese calligraphy, debate and
public speaking.
Beaconhouse learner profile
The Beaconhouse learner profile
translates its mission of benefiting students,
the community and the wider world into a
set of attributes essential for a student’s
holistic development. The learner profile
embodies values and beliefs that are
essential for students to learn and grow into
responsible citizens of the world.
Leveraging its international presence,
Beaconhouse organises events that offer
opportunities for students to experience
different cultures and interact with peers
across its vast network. The Beaconhouse
choose international schools based on how
many expatriates are in the school’s teaching
staff, when ideally, the focus should be on
the quality and experience of the teachers
instead of their nationality.
Gauging affordability
The cost of school fees is a major factor
when choosing a school and it can prove to
be a hindrance to some parents. However,
Prior opines that based on the fee structure,
there are many tiers to private and
international schooling in Malaysia, with
various options that cater to parents from
different strata of society.
“With the 40% quota for Malaysian
students to attend international schools
Beaconhouse schools bring the learning experience beyond just holistic development; they aim
to develop students in the fullest possible sense.
International Student Convention is an
annual platform that hosts activities and
competitions, ranging from sports and
athletics to science, technology, visual and
performing arts and filmmaking, in an effort
to emphasise 21st century learning.
Looking for a Beaconhouse
school near you?
Beaconhouse has nine preschools, two
private primary and secondary schools
offering the national curriculum and two
international schools offering the Cambridge
IGCSE curriculum, in the Klang Valley.
Beaconhouse believes that through hard
being lifted in 2012, we are now blessed with
the many choices of international schools on
various fee tiers here in Malaysia, especially
in the mid-tier fee range,” says Elizabeth
Wong, founder of Malaysia International
Schools Parents Support Group.
Regardless of the various tiers, the fact
that the expense of sending children to
private and international schools is much
higher than sending them to public schools
cannot be denied. However, as pointed out
by Wong, more and more Malaysian parents
are choosing the former, even at the cost of
compromising their lifestyle. But why?
Wong’s own children attend an
international school and she explains her
reason, “In the 21st century, education
should focus more on being knowledge-
engaged rather than knowledge-rich. We
want to see our children learn how to learn,
and an international school offers this
opportunity.
“I also wanted them to be in an
international school because of the
multicultural environment where mutual
respect is encouraged and not imposed, and
students are rewarded based on their
merits,” adds Wong.
In addition, Wong believes these
advantages are worth sacrificing for, and
says, “More middle-class families who value
quality education and are willing to
compromise other expenses such as holidays
and dining out are starting to consider
international schooling for their children.”
Apart from having students from around
the globe, international schools also employ
expatriates as teachers, and some parents
believe growing in this multicultural
environment will help shape children into
true global citizens.
> TURN TO PAGE 2
work and determination, students will be
able to step confidently into the real world.
Beaconhouse ensures that they are equipped
with the ability to make mature and well-
informed judgements based on a clear
understanding of essential principles,
concepts and moral values.
Join Beaconhouse for its upcoming Open
Day on June 29 from 10am to 3pm at all of
its campuses. Speak to School Leadership
Teams, take a tour and find out more about
the various curricula offered at Beaconhouse
preschools, national schools and
international schools.
n For more information, call 03-5632 2100 or
email marketing@beaconhouse.edu.my
2 Private & International School
Making an informed choice
> FROM PAGE 1
Evaluating the strengths
Apart from these factors, which are
common among most parents looking for a
school for their children, there are also
specific concerns related to individual
preferences, such as choice of curriculum
and teaching methodologies.
For Junita Ee Zui Sien, the reason for
choosing an international school over public qualifications, but instead the process of
school for her two boys was more about her facilitating learning, acquisition of knowledge,
lack of faith in the current national
education system.
“The uncertainty and rapid changes in our inculcating good habits and incorporating a
local education system worries me,
especially the competency and readiness of
the teachers as well as whether they are
equipped with the right teaching
methodologies.
“The Education Ministry should stick to
the fundamentals of teaching and retrain
teachers by sending them for refresher
courses. There should also be more
emphasis on English, with core subjects
taught in English because, like it or not, it is a their growing years at school and only a good
global language. I also believe that Malaysia
needs to stick to simple foundations of
education and not waste time on
unnecessary things such as black or white
shoes,” she opines.
Wong also expresses her doubts about
whether the Government’s current focus on
“revamping” the education system of
Malaysia is heading in the right direction.
“Many of us parents pursued the old
Malaysian education system and we are doing
well in our lives now, because it was leaner
and less complex. I think we need to first ask
what good education entails. To me, it is not
about pushing one towards getting certain
picking up various career skills through a rich
schooling experience and hard work,
good value system in children.
Education, after all, is not just about
academics but also about building character.
Educating a child takes three parties: the
school, the parents and the child herself.
Hence, it is not fair to put the entire
responsibility on schooling alone.
However, it is still imperative to find a school
that values and practises quality, holistic
education, because children spend most of
institution can nurture young minds by
fuelling their desire to learn.
> SEE ALSO PAGE 6
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JUNE 2019
Bringing context
to early education
THE Primary School of the International and learning process using a variety of
School of Penang (Uplands) (Uplands Primary methods to inform teachers and learners
School) understands that learning is about the progress of learning. Formative
inseparable from social and cultural contexts. assessments engage students actively in the
Students learn best when they feel accepted, process of learning. Students will learn to
enjoy positive relationships with their fellow self-assess, peer-assess and improve their
students and teachers, and are able to be performance with the aid of each teacher’s
active, visible members of the learning timely, detailed and meaningful feedback.
community. Specialist teachers work alongside
Its school motto, “Respect for self, respect classroom teachers to integrate the inquiry
for others”, drives every decision it makes. It concepts where authentic connections can
believes in creating self-directed learners be made. They co-teach with classroom
who know what makes them unique, what teachers to aid the inquiry process,
they are good at, what they need to work on providing support to both teachers and
and what steps they need to take to get there. students during the learning journey.
Uplands Primary School uses a range of
assessment tools to involve its students in n To arrange a visit, email admissions@
their own learning so they can identify their uplands.org
own individual goals and areas of growth. It
offers a balanced curriculum where students
are grown academically as well as in the arts,
physical education, sports and technology,
under the International Baccalaureate
Primary Years Programme (IB PYP).
The IB PYP framework incorporates local
and global issues into the curriculum,
asking students to look at six related,
transdisciplinary themes and to
consider the links between them. The
themes include “who we are”,
“where we are in place and time”
and “how the world works”. This
provides the foundations for
learners to take action and apply
their learning into new contexts
aiming to make a positive
difference to their community.
Ongoing and regular assessment
will take place during the teaching
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JUNE 2019 Private & International School 3

The most critical stage

AT Key Stage 4, things start to really matter.
At the end of this Key Stage, also known as
Years 10 and 11, students will sit for their
International General Certificate of
Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams, the

of secondary education
results of which will remain with the
candidate for life. These grades will be
required for acceptance into A-Levels courses
and are considered by university admissions
tutors as part of the selection process.
At the end of Key Stage 3 in Year 9, pupils
decide which courses they want to continue
to pursue in Years 10 and 11. The significance
of the Key Stage 4 exams at the end of Year
11 is highlighted through these externally
assessed qualifications and the results will be
available to university admissions tutors as
they make their offers to applicants.
Elite universities will require a minimum
standard of 7A* (or equivalent), so the
outcome of Key Stage 4 can impact the
options available to a pupil later on. Some
selective Sixth Form schools require a
minimum level of achievement at Year 11 for
acceptance into their A-Levels programmes.
Key Stage 4 is a
This will usually be made clear on their
website. time for pupils
Sixth Form study and university to explore their
applications aside, Key Stage 4 is a time for interests in greater
pupils to explore their interests in greater depth beyond
depth beyond the curriculum – not only the curriculum,
because this is fun and will bring pleasure including
for pleasure’s sake, but also because it can extracurricular and
strengthen an application for higher super-curricular
education, especially if pursuing it in the pursuits.
United States.
During Years 10 and 11, pupils have time
to develop their extracurricular pursuits proactive in creating opportunities for In addition, pupils undergo hormonal of the child. We must bear in mind the
such as sports and playing instruments, as themselves, the better her chances of being changes and experience pressure from social pressure that Key Stage 4 can present and
well as super-curricular portfolios that successful in her applications to more media and peers to conform and be accepted provide guidance and care to ensure the
include participating in wider reading selective courses upon completing A-Levels. into social groups, which can be especially children are happy and able to enjoy their
beyond the curriculum and academic The final point on the importance of Key difficult for pupils who are new to a school. learning and find pleasure in their academic
enrichment programmes. Stage 4 involves the personal circumstances It is vital that teachers and parents work journey. As research shows, happy children
During Key Stage 4, pupils can begin of the pupil at this point and the many together to support pupils at this time, learn best. – By Kate Carden-Brown, head
preparing their résumés (also known as challenges that he faces as an adolescent. maintaining the child’s self-esteem and well- of higher education and careers at Epsom
“brag sheets”) where they list their skills, Key Stage 4 is a time when many pupils being. College in Malaysia
experiences and activities in preparation for experience significant pressure, be it from Although success in exams is vital and
higher education. peers, teachers, parents and their extracurricular and super-curricular n For more information, call 06-240 4188,
The more a pupil engages with the expectations of themselves, and are ranked activities are to be encouraged, the most e-mail enquiries@epsomcollege.edu.my or
opportunities available to her and is or graded externally for the first time. important element at any stage is the health visit www.epsomcollege.edu.my
4 Private & International School THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JUNE 2019

Making learning amazing

WHAT makes a good school? A better
question is: what makes a good student?
Since its founding over 60 years ago,
Tenby Schools has grown into seven
campuses around Malaysia, offering both
international and national curricula. More
importantly, over the years, Tenby Schools
has developed a culture where students are
given the space to explore their potential
and be the best they can be.
However, we live in an age of
unprecedented challenges and opportunities
amidst rapid change. Changing education
trends reflect schools’ attempts to provide
students with the knowledge, skills and
adaptability necessary to be 21st century
citizens. But, while new methods and tools
are good, for effective learning to happen,
one must go deeper than merely adopting
these new methods and tools.
Tenby Schools takes a different
perspective. From its years of experience, it
understands that at its core, education is
founded on the relationship between
teachers, students and parents. As such, it is
focused on supporting parents’ efforts to
mould their child’s character, because Tenby
Schools knows that excellence in character
will result in excellence in all that the child
attempts.
That is why Tenby Schools is proud
to be part of the International Schools
Partnership (ISP), as its values are aligned For Tenby Schools, a good student is one who has the self-motivated desire to see how far they can go, and it is committed to ensuring that their
with the group’s approach to learning. desire is realised.
Learning is about getting better –
academically, socially, emotionally and more is driven by the aim of optimising learning didn’t realise I could do that until now!” in knowing that they can always be better.
– and is the result of repeated experiences outcomes. Its teachers observe the children For Tenby Schools, that’s what makes a Our children can attain all this when they
that hardwire getting better through good closely both inside and outside the good student. It is the self-motivated desire experience a school that empowers them.
struggle. ISP schools apply this philosophy classroom, while facilitating learning to see how far they can go. It is the For Tenby Schools, that is what makes a good
with methods that combine evidence-based opportunities by challenging them on a confidence that comes from realising that school and that is what it is committed to be.
brain research and global educational personal, individual basis. Its goal is for its their achievements are a result of
experience honed across the group’s students to have amazing learning perseverance through good struggle. It is the n To find out more and secure your child’s
40-strong network of international schools. moments, when they reach a level beyond pride in knowing that they have become place in the Tenby Schools family, visit
As such, everything done at Tenby Schools what they thought possible and can say, “I better versions of themselves. It is the hope schools.tenby.edu.my
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JUNE 2019
Get the best
of both worlds
ESTABLISHED in August 2016 by the
Lasallian Asian Partnerships for
International Schools (LAPIS) in partnership
with Tropicana Corporation Bhd and with
the blessings of the Brother Visitor and LEAD
council, St Joseph’s Institution International
School Malaysia (SJIIM) nurtures well-
rounded learners at all levels with its values-
centred education approach that is based on
the very best of the globally recognised
Lasallian education ethos.
SJIIM is the brother school of the 160-year-
old St Joseph’s Institution, an independent
all-boys secondary school, and St Joseph’s
Institution International School, an
independent co-educational international
school in Singapore.
The school has almost 800 students at all
levels as at June, which is a record number
of new students for a school in its third
academic year in the Tier 1 school category.
SJIIM’s student growth figure is matched by
its promise of academic excellence, which
was proven by the school’s outstanding
results in the 2018 International
Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
(IBDP) examinations. Two SJIIM
students scored a near-perfect 44
points, while 31.7% of SJIIM
students obtained 40 points and
above and boasted an aggregate
score of 37 points, a far cry from
the 2017 IBDP’s Global Average of
29.9 points and significantly
higher than the 34.17 points
average of other Malaysian
schools offering the IBDP.
At SJIIM, academic excellence
is solidified by the school’s carefully crafted
curricula design. Beginning with the
school’s early years foundation with its
Nursery and Reception programme, the
International Primary Curriculum and
Singapore Math are taught in Years 1 to 6,
followed by the International General
Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)
in Years 7 to 11 and IBDP in Years 12 and
13. The school’s curricula design is
supported by a Mandarin Programme that
is taught daily throughout the different
curriculum pathways. In true Lasallian
spirit, the school also allocates deserving
students scholarships to pursue the IBDP,
which further reiterates the school’s
founding purpose and mission.
n For more information, call 03-8605 3605,
email enquiries@sji-international.
edu.my or visit www.sji-
international.edu.my
PISF returns this June
ONE of the biggest responsibilities as parents
is planning their children’s education. With
more than 150 international schools in
Malaysia today and approximately 80
schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor alone,
parents who are considering an
international school education have more
options than ever before.
Choosing a suitable school is a time-
consuming process, one that involves
research, school visits and financial
planning. Each school operates
independently and differs from one another
in terms of curricula offered, location, fee
structure, teaching staff, ethos and learning
environment. Therefore, parents are
encouraged to be well informed of the
different international school offerings
before choosing a school for their children.
Organised by Mint Communications, the
Private & International School Fair aims to
help parents with the search for schools by
connecting them to leading international
schools in Malaysia all under one roof. The
upcoming 13th Private & International
School Fair in Kuala Lumpur will be held this
Saturday and Sunday at MidValley Exhibition
Centre, Kuala Lumpur. Opening hours are
from 11am to 7pm and admission is free.
Visitors will have the opportunity to speak
to representatives from international
schools, preschools, learning centres, pre-
university providers and special educational
needs centres from all over Malaysia. There
will also be special discounts, fee waivers
and scholarship offers exclusively for visitors
of the fair.
Exhibitors at the upcoming fair include
Dwi Emas International School, HELP
Private & International School 5
13th Private & International School Fair in
Kuala Lumpur
Date: June 22 and 23 (Saturday and
Sunday)
Time: 11am to 7pm
Venue: Mid Valley Exhibition Centre
International School, Kingsgate International
School, Kingsley International School,
MAHSA International School, R.E.A.L
Schools, Sayfol International School, St
Joseph’s Institution International School
Malaysia, Taylor’s International School and
Tenby Schools. A number of schools
exhibiting at the fair also offer boarding
facilities, such as Epsom College in Malaysia,
Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar and Westlake
International School.
The fair will also feature the 2nd PISF
Poetry Slam 2019. Students from both
national and international schools will
perform original poems in front of a live
audience and stand a chance to win
attractive cash prizes. Visitors can also attend
exciting workshops over the fair weekend.
The 2019/2020 edition of the Education
Destination Malaysia guidebook will be
sold at the fair at a discounted price. The
guidebook is an in-depth and comprehensive
guide to international education in Malaysia.
It contains detailed information on schools,
useful articles, infographics and insightful
advice to help parents decide on an
international school for their children.
n Register at www.pisf.asia to receive the
latest updates on the fair via email.
6 Private & International School
EDUCATOR'S DESK
MORE than half of students enrolling in
primary schools today will be employed in
jobs that do not exist yet. Or is it that they
will have to invent their own jobs? Or is it
that there be no jobs because robots will
have taken them all? You hear such things
regularly. I am always left wondering: how
could anyone possibly know?
It is certainly true that the world of work
is changing, and we need to prepare our
young people for this. There are many
careers now that didn’t exist 10 years ago.
How many people today are employed in
social media roles? What were these people
doing 10 years ago when smartphones were
just coming out? For other careers, the case
is that the skill set required has evolved.
Think of a university librarian. Their day
used to be spent helping crusty professors
find what they were looking for in dusty old
books. Now, they are grappling with a
bombardment of online content, the veracity
of which is sometimes doubtful.
I recently attended the conference of the
Council of British International Schools in
London. The topic this year was Vision 2030:
The Future of International Education.
Several keynote speakers focused on the
impact robots and artificial intelligence (AI)
will have on the future workforce.
They pointed out how essential it is that
our education system does not set humans
up to compete with robots. As one speaker
said, “There is a danger that our education
system is educating second-class robots
rather than first-class human beings.”
Speakers were at pains to point out that we
need to equip children with skills that robots
and AI cannot compete with, which include
creativity, fine motor skills, dexterity and the
ability to navigate social interactions well.
This has led to organisations such as
Google producing lists of what they believe
will be the most sought-after skills by
employers in the future. Rather
unsurprisingly, adaptability sits at the top of
the tree. However, are all schools listening,
and do they really understand what this
The future is unwritten
Creativity, adaptability and critical thinking skills have to be nurtured so that students can
successfully navigate through the opportunities and pitfalls in life.
means for them? I see too many examples
of schools around the globe preparing
students for what they predict tomorrow
will look like. In my mind, this isn’t good
enough. We are failing our children when
we do this.
The future is fuzzy and we don’t have a
crystal ball, so it seems to me that making
predictions is a bad idea. Moreover, what
all these predictions fail to recognise is that
the future isn’t written yet. We have agency
over this future and this is what we should
be preparing our young people for.
For Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar (KTJ), this means
ensuring our students are prepared to save
our planet and take the lead as global
citizens. It means that our students develop
an understanding of the need for balance in
Prioritising diversity
FOR Janelle Schmidt, the deciding factor
for a school was its location. However,
because her children were adopted from
Ethiopia, she was also concerned about
diversity and how they would fit in
socially.
She researched extensively and found a
school that perfectly suited her needs
while also providing an environment
conducive to learning.
“All the teachers at this school are
highly qualified, the administrative staff
impressed me when I met them and they
were also very approachable. Because
there is a small-community feel here (at
this school), I felt that my children would
be very well taken care of. I felt that the
When learning methodology takes precedence
Mother of four Huang Paik Ling first
enrolled her three children in a Chinese
national school, but later decided to move
them to an international school.
She says, “My children struggled with
the medium of teaching as we do not
speak the language at home. I also felt the
curriculum has a one-size-fits-all
approach. The students were taught that
there is only one way of problem-solving,
and that was the teacher’s way. Classes
often had up to 45 kids, so teachers did
not have the time to give each student
personalised attention. As a result, the
ones who received attention were the
ones who excelled and, ironically, the
ones who needed more help were
neglected.”
According to Huang, the school her
children currently attend follow a more
modern method of teaching, where there
is a heavy emphasis on values and
character-building.
“Quality academics is a given, so this
was definitely a plus point. Teachers are
genuinely caring and don’t mind staying
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JUNE 2019
Dr Glenn Moodie
Principal of KTJ
their lives and of the importance of mental
and physical well-being. It also means that
our students are equipped with social,
entrepreneurial and critical thinking skills,
allowing them to design their own
meaningful paths through this dense forest
of opportunities and pitfalls.
What I am saying is that the problem
with most of this stuff around preparing
young people for future careers is how it
frames the problem the wrong way. The
future is not a place that exists yet and our
young people have the power to decide
what it looks like. At KTJ, we believe our job
is to ensure our students determine a
future that is right for them, their
communities and the world at large.
Come visit the school to see us in action. I
would be delighted to meet with you to
discuss your child’s future.
n KTJ is the region’s premier British
international school for students aged three
to 19. For more information, call 06-758
2995 or email registrar@ktj.edu.my
staff members truly care about the children.
“The curriculum the school my children
attend has proven to be excellent in both
academics and instilling life skills. It has
aided in developing my children into
thinkers, problem-solvers, global citizens and
principled and reflective students.
Additionally, the school offers various sports
and after-school clubs that my children have
expressed interest in.”
She emphasises the importance of doing
thorough research before selecting a school,
saying, “Many international schools claim to
be, but are not true international schools, so
take tours of the campuses. Make a decision
that best suits your family because each
school has its own strengths.”
back after school on their own time to
coach weaker students.”
Although she was concerned that her
children may grow up feeling privileged
and disengaged from the real world when
attending an international school, she is
more than happy she made the switch.
“The current national syllabus is
outdated and continues to focus on rote
learning. I am happy that my children are
learning to think as opposed to being
spoon-fed.”
Before making the decision, however,
Huang did her homework on which
school would be the best fit for her
children by attending private and
international school fairs, speaking to
parents of other schoolchildren and
reading reviews on social media.
Having gone through the journey of
finding the right school, Huang’s advice
is: “Speak to as many parents as you can,
because although open days are good, no
school representative will tell you
anything bad about their school. Getting
balanced feedback is crucial.”
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JUNE 2019
An ordinary school day in an
extraordinary environment
AS part of the HELP Education Group, HELP
International School (HIS) was established in
2014 with an international team of
experienced and passionate leaders and
teachers. Five years later and with an
enrolment of more than 1,400 students, the
school is considered one of the fastest
growing international schools in Malaysia.
HIS was awarded a five-star rating from
the Education Ministry in just its second year
of operation and was recently shortlisted as
International School of the Year in the Times
Educational Supplement (TES) Independent
School Awards 2019 in the United Kingdom.
In an ordinary school day, as visitors take
a walk in the beautiful campus, they are
mesmerised by the lively scene at the green
courtyard where the school’s Tree of Life
stands. The majestic and symbolic rain tree,
which appears in the school logo, overlooks
young students playing at break time and
their older peers sitting on the rolling hills
and enjoying the company of their friends.
The place is abuzz with activity and
excitement as students of all ages engage in
various learning adventures and discoveries
inside and outside the classrooms. The Year
2 students are using their iPads and green
screens, which are located throughout the
school, to do weather reports, a project that
is helping them master both geography and
English. Just upstairs, Year 10 students are
producing remarkable videos on iMovie
about volcanoes and earthquakes, using an
innovative combination of modelling clay,
stop-motion animation, Minecraft and green
screens.
In the amphitheatre, some senior students,
At HELP international School, students are encouraged to expend creative effort to tackle
assignments and projects.
all dressed in togas, are staging a play set in
Ancient Greece as part of their exploration
into ancient history. Upstairs in the drama
black circle theatre, students are rehearsing
the school’s production of Macbeth. In the
cookery lab, Year 9 students have been given
a MasterChef-like challenge: to cook a dish
with their own unique recipes using only
one pot.
Without a doubt, the highlight of the day is
the Year 5 students having a Skype session
with astronaut Doug Wheelock from NASA,
who has accumulated more than 178 days in
space. They ask him questions about his
experience doing a spacewalk and the
technical challenges of launching a
spacecraft. This is part of their project to
learn about space and reflects the school’s
strong emphasis on the learning of science,
technology, engineering and mathematics.
Wheelock advises the students to “stay
curious, do something you love and be
persistent.”
In every corner of the school, we see
Private & International School 7
innovation, exploration and activity.
Students are swimming, running,
experimenting, debating, discussing and
presenting ideas. This is the joy of learning
and the school’s nine masteries in action:
intellectual, physical, creative, leadership,
technological, social, emotional, moral and
career development.
The school offers preschool, primary
(International Primary Curriculum),
secondary (International General Certificate
of Secondary Education) and A-Levels
education. The British curricula are
complemented by a strong multilingual
programme that includes English with an
emphasis on literature, Mandarin
(compulsory for all students), Bahasa
Malaysia, Spanish and French. The A-Levels
programme is also known for producing
achievers who secure scholarships to study
in world-class universities such as London
School of Economics, Imperial College of
London, University of California, Los Angeles
and University of St Andrews.
HIS chief executive officer Dr Gerard Louis
shares his thoughts, “We have come a long
way for a relatively young school. The
challenge of a learning organisation is to
understand the context and constantly keep
your pulse on the changes so that we can
prepare our students for a future that is
volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous.
We must learn from the past and charge
forward with passion and confidence.”
n For more information, call 03-7809 7000,
visit the campus at Subang Bestari, Selangor,
or visit his.edu.my
8 Private & International School
CHILDREN are unique, creative, curious,
and full of wonder and joy. They have an
incessant love for discovery and are keen
to experiment with the world.
As they enter preschool, over time, they
become more used to the routine of this
world, more dependent on the adults for the
things that bring them joy, interest them or
entertain them. Perhaps, before they reach
elementary school, you might even hear the
dreaded phrase “Mommy/Daddy, I’m bored.”
The wonder and curiosity that had been
present in them had been dimmed and they
might find it more difficult to independently
find joy and look to you for help organising
their day and play. This effect is called
“schooling” and unfortunately, if done in a
traditional and systematic way, can educate
your child out of creativity, curiosity and the
independent passion for learning and
finding out new things.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however.
Some programmes do provide children with
a lifelong love of, and for, learning new
things, developing novel ideas and solving
problems.
The International Baccalaureate Primary
Years Programme (PYP) has been known to
support those types of child development
and IGB International School (IGBIS) is
where the implementation of this
educational framework, philosophy and
practice has been taken to another level of
excellence.
Through the PYP, the child’s individual
needs and talents are at the centre of
everything that happens in the school. The
programme’s practices are built around
three main areas: the learner, learning and
teaching, and the learning community.
The learner focuses the efforts of the
teachers on the voice that every student has.
It embraces their ideas, forms of expression,
ways in which they want to communicate
and ensures children get plenty of
opportunities to learn and practise how to be
highly skilful and effective communicators.
This means traditional classroom
environments are a thing of the past. IGBIS
elementary classrooms are open spaces with
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JUNE 2019
Preparing children
for tomorrow, today
sofas, floor pillows, bean bags, group tables traditionally separate subject areas. research, methodology and future aspects of
and individual breakout spaces, so that The teaching in the PYP classroom at IGBIS learning and teaching. The IGBIS community
every child can find a place that makes them empowers and engages the learner to grow recognises that it “takes a village to raise a
learn in the most optimal conditions. Those independent, reflective and seek high levels child” and the need to make sure that this
two qualities – voice and choice – build the of thinking, researching, socialising, child never loses the curiosity, creativity and
sense of ownership in all learners in the communicating and self-managing. drive they were born with to discover and
IGBIS school community. The learning community is embodied in learn new things.
The learning and teaching in a PYP school the school’s motto, “Ignite minds and impact IGBIS is excited to announce that there
like IGBIS is rooted in educational research lives.” It is a model in which children, will be no increase in fees for the next
and good practice that makes this parents and teachers come together and academic year. The school is open for
programme trusted, timeless and recognise that each of them is a learner. enrolments for the 2019-2020 academic year
transformational. Throughout the eight While students learn through investigation beginning August.
years of the programme, PYP students and discovery, their teachers are engaged in
experience learning that is engaging, ongoing professional inquiry and constantly n For more information on the IB
significant, relevant and challenging. reflect on their best practices, tools programmes offered at IGBIS, contact the
Children investigate real-life issues, test and strategies for the classroom. Admissions Department at enquiries@igbis.
strategies and follow the design thinking At the same time, parents are edu.my or call 03-6145 4688.
process. This allows children to solve engaged through educational
problems, apply their understanding and
take responsible action. This kind of learning
spans traditional subjects and children are
given tools and conceptual ways of thinking
that allow them to see and forge
connections between maths, science,
social studies, languages, arts, physical
education, music and more
It takes effort
to ensure that
children retain their
creativity, curiosity
and the independent
passion for
learning and
finding out
new things.