SINGAPORE : Latest results from the International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations show that Singapore students are among the top performers worldwide.
In fact, they make up about half of the world's perfect scorers.
It was a leap of
faith that 19-year-old Amanda Ang took when she chose to pursue the IB
Diploma at St Joseph's Institution International two years ago.
She
said: "At the beginning, my mother wanted me to go to junior college
instead, but later on, she saw that I became much more passionate about
learning, and I was given the opportunity to be involved in many
different areas. I wouldn't normally have the opportunity to, and so she
was supportive of my decision in the end."
And it has paid off. Amanda graduated among the top of her batch last year.
Her counterparts at other schools did just as well.
Four schools under the Education Ministry currently offer the IB programme.
They
are Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Anglo Chinese International, St
Joseph's Institution International and Hwa Chong International.
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) produced half of the world's perfect scorers.
The
International Baccalaureate Organisation said 57 students worldwide
achieved the maximum score of 45. Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
produced 28 perfect scorers.
Hwa Chong International saw a pass rate of 100 per cent, while it was 96 per cent for Anglo Chinese International.
The schools said the IB programme gives them the flexibility to offer a holistic and creative curriculum.
Students
are engaged through a wide lesson plan, which includes outdoor
activities like St Joseph's Institution International's Challenge Week.
Brian
Christian, principal of St Joseph's Institution International, said:
"They have a set budget and they have to leave Singapore and they have
to take on a service-orientated challenging project for a week.
"They
are on their own and I think the independence they develop is
brilliant. We allow students to explore areas that would not be
available to them in something like the 'A' Levels programme."
The
International Baccalaureate Organisation said the programme's
difficulty suits Singaporean students' insatiable pursuit to achieve.
Amanda
from St Joseph's Institution International said: "It is not really more
difficult than any other way. It just focuses a lot more on individual
opinion and ideas and creativity and it is less exam focused, but it
allows us to focus more on our individual projects and assessments."
Including private institutions, there are currently 23 schools which offer the IB programme in Singapore.
- CNA/ms
ACS produced half of the world's top scorers......lol. Sure or not!??!