WITH ITS SECONDARY SCHOOL DEPARTMENT FRESH OFF ITS FIRST ACADEMIC YEAR, THE NEWLY PURPOSE-BUILT SCHOOL, SRI KDU®, HAS PROVEN TO BE A RESOUNDING SUCCESS. AS THE SCHOOL GETS SET TO OPEN ITS PRIMARY SCHOOL THIS SEPTEMBER, THE EXPAT SAT DOWN WITH PRINCIPAL MARK CURNANE.
The Expat: Sri KDU opened as an international school in September 2011. How did you decide on the curriculum?
Mark Curnane: Our curriculum is based on the English National Curriculum, with additional syllabuses related to international education. At Key Stage 1 to 3 (ages 5-14), we follow the English Curriculum documents to guide teaching and learning. At Key Stage 4 (14-16 years), we follow Cambridge IGCSE and at Key Stage 5 (pre-university, 16+), we follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The IBDP has been offered since 2007 at the National School and is now part of the International School.
TE: How does SKIS integrate the non-international curricula with the international segment?
MC: The Malaysian Government requires students to study certain subjects, such as Bahasa Malaysia. Languages are easy to integrate as the English National Curriculum gives guidance on the teaching of languages; BM within SKIS is taught at various levels according to the individual needs of the students. Other aspects of the government requirements can be integrated into the school curriculum, for example local history is part of the history syllabus.
TE: Please discuss how your award-winning architecture contributes to the overall academic and social environment fo your students.
MC: Designed by Fielding Nair, an international company responsible for building schools in many different countries around the world, the SKIS building boasts a design fit for the 21st century. Personalised Learning Communities and accessible IT infrastructure support our holistic ethos, allowing students access to computers both in their free time and during lessons. I guide the school towards a positive attitude to all things and the building design supports this with a communal atmosphere.
TE: How do your exam results correlate to your vision of producing global citizens?
MC: We expect our students to attain high grades. However, tens of thousands of students around the world compete to gain entry into the world’s best universities, but only a small number are successful. What these universities look for is more than just grades; they are looking for well-rounded students possessing something more than just academic accomplishments. To this end, SKIS students were successful this year in their entry to universities of their choice. We have students who were given unconditional offers, whereby the universities weren’t concerned about the exam outcomes at all.
TE: How do you best assess and quantify the critical thinking skills of your students?
MC: Some things are very difficult to quantify through traditional methods, and old-fashioned assessments which give percentages or grades as outcomes are not sufficient for the modern world. The English Curriculum supports critical thinking and the way we measure improvements is based on a range of criteria, including aspects of higher order thinking skills.
At SKIS, we refer to English National Curriculum levels rather than simply percentages and grades. In order to reach the higher levels within Key Stage 3, for example, students need to demonstrate higher order thinking skills in their writing.
TE: Is there anything else you would like our expat readers to know?
MC: I believe we offer great value at SKIS. Educating children in the private sector is a financial burden for parents. I truly believe we offer an education fit for the future and as good as any in the region. Our dedicated staff are supported throughout the year with training programmes to encourage them and enhance their skills as teachers. Our mix of expatriate and Malaysian teachers allows SKIS students to experience a genuine multicultural environment where every member of the community is valued.
With a mix of nationalities (there are twenty different languages spoken by our students), I believe it is important all our students show courtesy and respect to each other, regardless of race, religion or beliefs. Our discipline policy makes these expectations clear and our first year has been wonderful in regards to the positive atmosphere amongst our students.
When we open our primary international school this coming September, each class will have a British-trained teacher and be supported by an additional Malaysian teacher in each class. They will be using the same textbooks in English, Maths and Science as students use in England. However, the focus is not on being British, but on being international. To this end, students will focus on world (including Malaysian) history, rather than just the history of the UK. Through a thematic approach to learning the primary children will be able to have English as their main language, but also integrate Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysia vocabulary in their work.
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Sri KDU® International School
No. 3, Jalan Teknologi 2/1
Kota Damansara , 47810 Daerah
Petaling, Selangor Darul Ehsan
Tel: 03.6145 3888
Fax: 03.6156 9011
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Monday – Friday
www.srikdu.edu.my
This article was written by The Expat for The Expat magazine.
Source: The Expat August 2012
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