The 10 Best International Schools in Thailand to Watch in 2020

ISSUE - 03 | MARCH 2020

THE

10 BEST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS IN THAILAND

TO WATCH IN 2020

BANGKOK PATANA SCHOOL A Holistic School Blending Curriculum with Innovative and International Standards

Introduction of International Education in the Modern Education System

The Need for International Education and the Emerging Hurdles It Carried in the Modern Education System

Editor's Note

International Schools Bestowing an International Driven Education Platform

Let's Chat Education is the flag bearer for every individual to achieve ultimate success and shape their voice and personality through their respective unique opinions and choices. More importantly, at a young tender age, every child can be molded into a well-educated and responsible student with proper guidance and teachings by the school authorities. Gone are the days, when limitations and protocols existed in a particular setup, in the present day, there is no longer hesitation for associations and bringing in international standards from around the globe to foster the modern-day educational curriculum.

The schools are collaborating and merging with other respective schools to increase their core competencies and together deliver better outcomes. When powerful and influential schools come together under one roof and work towards bringing in a change with their educational performances and insights, they became a brand identity receiving international recognition. These schools prepare an international curriculum and meet the highest standards of knowledge for fostering the student both personally and professionally for the present and future times.

Education Brainiac presents a special issue on “The 10 Best International Schools in Thailand to Watch in 2020”, which highlights the top international schools in Thailand and delivering quality-driven education while meeting the international standards for the upliftment of the students' career and dreams.

On the cover, we have the Bangkok Patana School. As the oldest British international school in Thailand, Bangkok Patana is proud to embody the best of British values with an international outlook. The school provides a broad and balanced curriculum, which offers an international edge to the students seeking a global perspective in school education. For the Special Category Profile, we have KIS International School, a full International Baccalaureate (IB) World School and we also have Niva International School, the school is known as NIVA all around Thailand and has created its brand entity with an international curriculum.

The issue also features some top international schools across Thailand, which are offering an international standard of education with modern-day curriculum and extra-curricular amenities for the holistic development of every student. Here are these institutes Beaconhouse Yamsaard School Group, British International School, Phuket, and Storytime Preschool Bangkok. So, turn the pages for more insights.

Let's get started

Sara Patel EDITOR (sara@thebusinessbrainiac.com)

Educationbrainiac.com The homepage for the latest educational trends, insights, and analysis Educationbrainiac.com is a most authoritative and inuential web address, bringing you a curated collection of educational news, authentic articles, thought leadership and exclusive proďŹ les related to the provisions of national & international institutions, universities, and their supreme eaders from around the globe.

EDITORIAL Editor Dipali Patel Managing Editor Alex Wright, Krishnai Khairnar

ART & DIRECTOR Art & Design Director Visualizer Graphic Artist

Chetan Urunkar James Brown Joseph D'Souza

ADVERTISING & PROMOTION Email : sales@educationbrainiac.com Marketing Manager Robert Smith Business Development Executive John Nelson, Daniel White.

DEVELOPMENT Technical Head Technical Consultant

Pankaj Hongekar Vishal Mane, Dhiraj Kate

February 2020

TO SUBSCRIBEBE ONLINE TURN ON PAGE 18

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE Email: subscribe@educationbrainiac.com

WRITE TO US Email : info@educationbrainiac.com

CONNECT :

educationbrainiac.com Education Brainiac Education Brainiac education_brainiac Education Brainiac

Copyright ©2019 The Education Brainiac, All rights reserved. The publisher and editors make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the content. However, no responsibility can be taken for any effect from errors or omissions for any investments and decisions taken on the basis of the information provided herein. The publisher doesn't take any responsibility for any claims made in advertising carried within the magazine. All material published in the magazine is copyright protected and unauthorized reproduction is prohibited without express written permission of the editor.

CONTENT Cover Story Profile

BANGKOK PATANA SCHOOL A Holistic School Blending Curriculum with Innovative and International Standards

12

Special Category Profiles KIS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL A Contemporary and Comprehensive School Offering Global Education

20 NIVA AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Reinforcing a Highly Vibrant and Curated Education Experience

24

30 BEACONHOUSE YAMSAARD INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL An Intimate Campus with a Family School

34 BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, PHUKET Delivering a Holistic Education Experience for students from across the globe

38 STORYTIME PRESCHOOL BANGKOK The Dynamic School Offerings a Comprehensive Platform

BRAINIAC TALK

36

Why Schools Should Focus More on Cognitive Skills

ALKA KAPUR

ARTICLES 32

International Schools in Thailand The Upli ment of the Educational Fraternity

40

Introduction of International Education in the Modern Education System

42

The Need for International Education and the Emerging Hurdles It Carried in the Modern Education System

The Prestigious Cover Story Profile

A

school is a basic foundation for every individual to nurture their interests and talents and become global thinkers and responsible citizens. To achieve this goal, schools aim to create a highly focused and curative environment for its children with an excellent curriculum, advanced infrastructure, and future career opportunities. Over the course of time, the schools have started executing resourceful initiatives like collaborations, associations, conferences, and events for the development of their students. It encourages its students to actively participate in these programs for their personality development and professional journey. One such school ensuring that students of different nationalities grow to their full potential as independent learners in a caring British international community is Bangkok Patana School.

12

March | 2020

The School's Journey to the Forefront Age often gives the opportunity to establish a good reputation and the school is a perfect example of it. It was established six decades ago in a backyard garden playhouse of the founder Rosamund Stuetzel. She had a vision, “To keep families together while ensuring that the children were able to attain an education equivalent to one gained in the UK.” Her vision has helped in achieving many goals on every step of the journey and over the course of this long period, it has evolved from 28 students to more than 2, 200 students with a widespread campus of 50 acres.

13

The school is well-known today and has become a successful brand because it has stood true to its roots and virtues. Its underlying principles remain the same and are reflected in the school's guiding statements, the cornerstone of which is the importance of community, diversity, and enabling every student to fulfill their potential.

The school got its name from a combination of the city in which it is located and the Thai word which means “development”. This name was derived from the founder's original intention of having a school in Bangkok, which is student-centric and

meets the requirements for fostering its students. It's an organization that would never simply rest on its laurels and continues to set benchmarks with its ideal performance.

“As a not-for-profit, independent school, the focus of all development in school is on how it will affect the children's learning. We are not academically selective because we understand that children mature at different ages and we hope to enjoy the myriad of differences they bring to the classroom.”

March | 2020

A Rounded and Robust Curriculum

An Influential Leader A charismatic personality, Matthew Mills is the Head of the School. He has been the school's longest head having completed a decade at the school as he moves into his 11th year. Matt is a New Zealander and grew up in the Pacific islands. In his professional journey, he has worked in many international schools across Hong Kong, China, and Europe before joining Bangkok Patana. Under his leadership, the school has undergone its ten-year master plan, which has seen a renovation of more than 50- acre campus.

He is a keen listener, who has always kept his doors open to new ideas and innovation. He believes in his students'

14

voice and they have had much impact on the development of the school. One such example is the large solar panel project which began from a Student Environmental Committee proposal to the School Board. Currently the school produces an incredible 1.2MW of power. Under Matt's skilled leadership, the academic staff/ teachers are challenged to ensure the use of the right techniques, methods, and sensibilities to embrace and nourish their students with affection and care.

“His gregarious, friendly style is infectious and he's just as comfortable reading to three-year-olds as he is in leading discussions on the future of education with his peers.”

“We are honored to see our students develop into respectful contributors to local and global communities.”

Bangkok Patana School describes its voice as “Culturally British and proudly international”. As the oldest British international school in Thailand, Bangkok Patana is proud to embody the best of British values with an international outlook. The school provides a broad and balanced curriculum, which offers an international edge to the students seeking a global perspective in school education. Right from the former years to formative years i.e. Nursery to 18 years old, the school links follow a progressive British curriculum based

March | 2020

on the English National Curriculum with assessments taking place at key points.

The school holds (I)GCSE exams in the 11th year, it also embraces the IB (International Baccalaureate) Learner Profile and students complete the IB Diploma Program in their last two years at school i.e. in the year 12th and 13th. For the overall growth of the students, apart from the academic curriculum, the school also hosts a robust extra-curricular programme which features more than 400 different activities each week. The five academies - Swimming, Tennis, Gymnastics, Dance and Drama, and Football - offer year-round,

15

specialized training along with competitive and recreational development. All the activities in the extra-curricular (ECA) programme follow the school's values of developing well-being, learning and global citizenship. Over 90% of student take one or more ECAs. Bangkok Patana is well-known for its strong performance in sporting and academic pursuits.

The school is committed to the rigor of British education and emphasises diligent application, integrity, strong moral principles, and equality. These are the key drivers for building deep knowledge and developing students as lifelong learners, thereby preparing

them for an every-changing future. It provides diverse opportunities for students to explore new areas and discover their passions. The strong pastoral system supports student well-being and allows them to realise and excel to their true potential.

“We are truly an international school with a very diverse student body. We develop global citizens; world perspectives are woven through the curriculum and extra-curricular programs. Our enduring principles of inclusivity and diversity ensure that we are empowered by our interculturalism, making us proud to be part of this caring British international community.”

March | 2020

The Core Values and Competencies Bangkok Patana School cherishes a healthy environment that is driven by a triangular approach incorporating Well-Being, Learning, and Global Citizenship. These three principles are further elaborated as: WELL-BEING: We are protected, safe and secure, motivated and engaged, responsible and honest, kind and compassionate, balanced and fulfilled.

LEARNING: We are rigorous, inquisitive and creative, collaborative and confident communicators, critical, reflective thinkers, passionate, resourceful and resilient.

GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP: We are committed to integrity active volunteers diverse, inclusive, ethical,

16

and informed empowered by interculturalism, inspired to improve global sustainability, and respectful contributors to digital and local communities.

thinkers and fulfill their dreams. The school's strong professional development practices ensure that teachers are at the forefront of pedagogy.

These are the key pointers that define the school's overall existence and performance. Also, Bangkok Patana leverages it's more than 60-year experience with the adoption of leading-edge pedagogical practices.

The school maintains an average ratio of 1:10 (teacher: student), which depends on the age of the children and the complexity of senior students' courses. Under the guidance of remarkable teachers, the children develop passion and persistence, learning to become independent

Despite being academically nonselective, the school's results are on par with other top international schools. The Class of 2019 achieved a 96% pass rate, against a world average (WA) of 77% in their IB Diploma and many have matriculate to top universities around the world.

These include acceptances to Oxford, Cambridge, Ivy League and Russell Group institutions, as well as specialist programmes such as Berklee School of Music, Mountview Academy of the Arts and sports scholarships.

March | 2020

Innovative and Modern Learning Environments The teachers and students of Bangkok Patana have been an integral part of campus development resulting in learning environments that are amongst the best in Asia. The school indoor/outdoor style campus boasts wide open spaces with natural light, flowering shrubs, trees, and other greenery throughout the school's purpose-built learning areas. Primary school children enjoy a 'neighborhood', small-school environment within the larger community, as each two Year groups share their own building and playground. In Primary, the classrooms, collaborative learning

17

spaces, and playgrounds have been specially designed for each year group.

The Secondary School faculties also have purpose-built learning environments which include a stateof-the-art and well equipped Science Centre, an Arts Centre with two theatres, sound-proofed music rooms, numerous Drama studios with mirrors and sprung floors and Art classes abundant in natural light. The Sports Complex has eight tennis courts and four full-size 11-a-side football pitches (in addition to the pitches on the school side). The Primary Well-Being Room and the Secondary Well-Being

Hub with counsellor support show the commitment to the school's first value.

We take our role as a good organistional citizen seriously. With our long history we work with local authorities as a mentor and guide for good education? The school is an active member of the International Schools Association of Thailand, supports local and rural schools with resources, and often hosts learning walks by representatives from different government authorities in Thailand tasked with improving education.

March | 2020

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

AND GET 1 YEAR OF

EDUCATION BRAINIAC MAGAZINE

AVAIL YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION AND RECEIVE BRAINIAC WEEKLY Name : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Date : _ _ _ _ _ Address : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Telephone : _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _

Email : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

City : _ _ _ _

State : _ _ _ _

Pin : _ _ _ _

Country : _ _ _ _

I agree to receive sms and mail regarding subscrip ons

Subscribe Online

Email: subscribe@educationbrainiac.com For more informa on and to adver se Email : sales@educationbrainiac.com

The Special Category Profiles

The KIS community aims to inspire students and other community members to challenge themselves to become better people, who in turn become inspiring individuals who help make the world become a better place.

E

stablished in 1998, KIS is a full International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. Initially, it started as a primary school that offers the IB Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) and eventually advanced to include the IB Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) and the IB Diploma. In the span of a few years, the school has experienced steady growth and has gained a name for itself for its remarkable performance. Its “demand of spaces” approach has expanded the school from two classes per grade level to three classes per grade, currently accommodating 800 students from 55 different nationalities.

The Charismatic Personality The school recently welcomed its new Head, Paul Johnson. He has a rich

20

leadership experience of over two decades and has worked previously at international schools in Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, Morocco, India, and the USA. He has reckoned the perfect blend of nurturing a safe and vibrant learning environment with a strong sense of community and high academic standards. Paul's zeal and passion combined with his leadership personality are well suited for the international culture at KIS. His calm and reflective approach, style, and sense of humor are the key assets for inculcating a family-friendly community at KIS. Paul describes that working extensively for many years around the globe has shaped his international commitment along with an understanding and admiration for host cultures.

strong and that students and faculty were happy. When I met with the student council members, one elementary student exclaimed, “I love being here as much as my own home!”

Parents I met with clearly loved the school. Teachers were engaging and students were learning.

Paul recalls his first day at KIS, “Oh wow! This school has really got their act together. It was comforting confirmation that the community was

March | 2020

I felt like everyone is working towards a common goal and that the school is student-centered. Additionally, there is a part of my personality that drives

me to desire continuous improvement. This matches with what I see in the rigorous and holistic curriculum at KIS. Positive energy,

friendliness, and warmth - these are the immediate impressions I had of KIS.�

KIS International School helps students embrace a balanced atmosphere to think critically, be open-minded, and develop a respect for different cultures. It works with a mission to be an innovative community providing its students with knowledge, inspiration, and spirit to become proud and responsible people. Elaborating these three key drivers of t he school's core values:

21

March | 2020

A Holistic Education KIS International School has worked meticulously to become one of the best schools in Bangkok. Over the years, its performance has surpassed other schools and made it a brand entity amongst all. It focuses on inquiry and a student-centric approach. The students are trained under the world's finest teachers ensuring their overall development and keeping them motivated to pursue their talents. KIS graduates are well rounded and academically strong, which results in them being offered positions at the best universities on a global scale.

Apart from academics, the school bestows the students to develop skills in many areas such as creative thinking, problem-solving,

22

communication, socializing, collaboration, time management, and many more sculpting them to become the innovators of the future. KIS has an exemplary level of achievement.

Authorization by the IB and accreditation by CIS gives assurance that high standards are maintained in academics and the way the school operates.

For KIS safety comes first and hence it adapts safety protocols and protection for the well-being of its students and community members. It celebrates an active environment surrounded by lush green trees and a divine campus. Located at the city center, it comprises of playgrounds for different age groups and amenities like well-equipped science labs, design workshops, art and drama studios, libraries, auditorium, sports facilities,

indoor air-conditioned courts, canteen, and three swimming pools. The new facilities include a fully equipped design suite with a CNC machine, laser cutters, several saws and other machinery for the design of large objects. These complement the existing 3D printers, molding equipment, and large format printer.

The building also hosts a multipurpose hall, a new school shop, a carpentry room, and several offices, including the admissions office.

Educating about the environment and the world is a must in today's given time. The students at KIS are ready to tackle challenges and make a potential difference. These students are doing an excellent job of helping their fellow students, people, animals, and the environment and broadening their vision on the on-going momentum.

March | 2020

Overview of KIS Programs

Primary Years Programme, the IB Middle Years Programme, and the IB Diploma.

KIS students learn through the International Baccalaureate curriculum, which is well-known, recognized, and respected throughout the world. The IB programs are designed for increased adaptability and mobility of students and there are more than 1 million IB students in over 5,000 IB schools in 157 countries. It was one of the first PYP schools in the world and has had graduating classes since 2010. The IB programs guide children from 3 to 19 years old in their journey of learning. Unlike at some other international schools in Bangkok, where the IB may be offered to selected grade levels only, at KIS, students across all grade levels partake in the IB, through the IB

There are also playgroups for toddlers, which are structured, providing routines like enjoying music, arts, and crafts, story time, indoor and outdoor play in a school environment.

23

A Take on Future KIS delivers a strong academic programme, but understands the need for a balanced education and students to develop important skills that go beyond academics. The school has advanced technology to boost students' performance and here are a few words of wisdom by Paul to conclude it all. “Being the Head of School allows me to take KIS to a future where it is

not only well respected within Thailand but also recognized as one of the top international schools in the region. My experience in a variety of respected international schools and with the organizations that support schools like ours are extensive and wide-reaching and my commitment is to lead KIS in its journey of self-reflection and continuous improvement.

I'm impressed with what KIS has to offer as KIS is a school on the move and I am excited to be part of that. I am a strong believer in the International Baccalaureate curriculum and see how this helps students prepare for the future. I am delighted that KIS is, and always has been a full IB World School that offers the IB to students of all ages. This is an important part of preparing students to be ready for the future.”

March | 2020

The 10 Best INTERNATIONAL

Schools

IN THAILAND to Watch in 2020

24

March | 2020

25

March | 2020

26

March | 2020

27

March | 2020

The High-Grade Profiles and Articles

E

stablished in 2014, Beaconhouse Yamsaard International School (BYIS) is a joint venture between Yamsaard School Group and Beaconhouse School System. These independent schools decided to collaborate and combine their extensive experience in delivering educational excellence and embark on a new journey to become an international brand entity. The ďŹ rst landmark event was to open Beaconhouse Yamsaard International School in the Prawet district of

30

Bangkok. BYIS offers unique 21stcentury skills and knowledge-based curriculum, based on the National Curriculum of England for Early Years and Primary.

Family Atmosphere at BYIS Beaconhouse Yamsaard International School (BYIS) is a family school where the principal (who knows everyone by name), teachers, students, and parents greet each other with big smiles. BYIS aims to ensure that

students and teachers always establish meaningful relationships.

Teachers understand that students are forming attitudes toward learning that they will carry their whole lives.

They understand that if a child feels un-welcomed, it may affect their whole school career from then on.

They understand and deeply care about engaging their student's hearts, as well as their minds. This is why, at BYIS, students are supported and encouraged to discover the best version of themselves in an atmosphere where it is warm and family-like.

March | 2020

Fusing Creativity and Compassion at BYIS We believe that children deserve a curriculum that enables them to develop both their intellectual skills, as well as thinking and motivation. Our curriculum is designed and built upon a Play-Based Approach. Learning through play allows students to make sense of their social worlds through engagement with their teachers, peers, objects, and environments around them. There are four steps that play-based learning is strengthened in our classrooms:

“Kindness Makes the World Go Around�

At BYIS, we always believe that students should feel welcomed, cared for, and loved. By welcoming and caring for students, teachers make them feel more open to understanding the world around them and to be kind to others. Teachers nurture students' positive behaviors through encouraging them to respect, to be kind to one another, to help other students who fall behind and to actively participate in classes. In this way, students at BYIS build a positive attitude towards learning in which they can achieve higher learning goals.

31

March | 2020

Living in the modern world, the modiďŹ cations and resources are changing at a fast pace and are leaving behind a meaningful impact.

When it comes to the Education sector, one can say that the changes experienced in this sector are immense. These transformations to an extent have changed the world and continue to provide resources that have the power to change reality. With such impeccable alterations, the students can foresee several opportunities never seen before and also discover the inďŹ nite world of unlimited exposures.

32

The Game Changer Change is the name of the game, to build a brand and secure a position in the education fraternity; the schools must provide the utmost offerings and services to students. To stand-out amongst all and become a renowned name, the schools are bestowing the students with an international-based curriculum and upgrading to an international level of education syllabus. The schools are taking effective initiatives and measures to offer the students with new perspectives and open their eyes to a

new surrounding of diverse studies.

When it comes to adopting an international curriculum or becoming an international platform, the school authorities are revising and bringing in new opportunities to encourage students to learn and grow in a compassionate and liberal environment. The world of education is meeting international standards and is putting forth their best foot forward to bring in the level of education that can mark an impetus in the lives of many visionary students.

March | 2020

A Realm of Technology Coming to technology, it is no other than a wonder that the world is experiencing and continues to experience on a day-to-day basis.

Technology has swept its way in every particular industry and with that, it has marked its position in the education sector. It has potentially joined hands with education needs and swiftly enhanced the student's learning experience. Technology is a paperless phenomenon and hence it intrigues the students to learn in a new possible way. The appealing visuals are in turn a true beneďŹ t for the teachers and students, as the teaching and learning format becomes more interesting and easy to learn with.

All the international platforms host a technologically advanced syllabus and host a series of education-technology based programs to foster the students with the world of hi-tech learning. This encourages the students to perform at maximum potential and bring the best out of themselves for their professional career path. Technology and Education are making ends meet to help the students learn more and more each day and also motivate the students to learn new programs, take up new activities, and know more subjects with the help of tech-based education.

Gone are the days, where students could toil for long hours to complete their classroom studies and their homework and turn the page to page

33

and eventually have a lack of interest in studies. This technology-based education is a must for modern times and for the students to broaden their vision to innovations and systems.

International schools are surely giving students the time of their lives by embracing the hi-tech education systems.

The Resourceful Collaborations In recent times, many schools have come together for the betterment of students and their respective societies.

The schools are joining hands with international names for becoming a reputable brand and also improving their educational offerings to match international standards. Often, these types of associations and collaborations are seen in the industrial world, but with the education sector more openly adopting this, it is a win-win situation.

The students are no longer restricted to learn or have any sort of constraint when it comes to the resources that the schools are providing in today's time. Sharing knowledge is the way of growing knowledge and coming together is the way forward.

Be it these tie-ups, collaboration, or associations, the schools are bringing the best of educational experts from around the globe to make students aware of the outreach that education

holds today. Students are meeting these veteran professionals, new-age teachers, dynamic professors, and fellow students and opening their doors to numerous opportunities and exposures that await them in the future. Education has spread its word loud and clear; it has shattered the stereotypes and is marching towards success that is never seen before. The students along with their parents are building a strong relationship with schools and the schools are committed to delivering at par excellence.

International learning is no more a dream, it is now a reality that students experience in their respective school through resourceful International collaborations.

The Way from Here Many a time, there are situations, which makes one feel stagnant or become a part of a momentous routine. These tough times call for a decision to make, a powerful and inuential decision that can shape reality like never before and this is where the Education sector has risen like a phoenix. It has successfully shaped its presence in the world and continues to do so with upcoming times. Be it technology, collaborations, or meeting international standards, it is living and bringing the future times to the present day. Paving its way and marking its territory, the Education Sector is on a roll.

March | 2020

E

stablished in 1996, the British International School, Phuket (BISP) is a co-educational, day and boarding school rated as one of the top international schools in Thailand and Asia. It has a huge campus area built around a 44-acre (111 rai) healthy green environment, which includes high-quality boarding accommodation and provides world-class facilities. These highly focused amenities enable students to excel in their academic forefront as well as in sports and extra-curricular activities like performing arts, music, and many more. The school welcomes students from across the world, where currently the student body consists of 850 students from 60 different nationalities coming together and learning through this curative platform. Many of these talented students have represented their respective countries internationally across a range of high-performance sports, events, and in various competitions.

About the Head A diligent personality, Neil Richards is the Headmaster of the school. A veteran, author, workshop leader, international educator, and conference presenter, Neil joined BISP in 2011. He is highly qualified with a number of degrees and honours including an MBE, B.A., PGCE, and M.Phil. In his professional career front, he has previously handled many positions in various schools and colleges around the globe, which include being the Headmaster of Machabeng High School, Lesotho; Yokohama International School, Japan, and UWC Atlantic College, Wales, UK. Due to his dedication performance and valuable contribution to the field of education, he has been awarded an MBE for services to British education in Japan in 2006.

34

The Five-Point Key Proposition of the School British International School Phuket (BISP) believes in serving an international platform to uplift the young minds of today for becoming responsible and innovative future leaders. The school serves the students with a holistic approach to build an environment to nurture the students thoroughly in their personal and professional journeys. The school follows some key pointers that contribute to the overall well-being of a student :

● It is incumbent upon an institution of learning to provide opportunities at the highest possible levels of achievement, and not be inhibited by the 'glass ceiling' of external examinations.

● Life skills can only be fully developed within a cohesive and supportive community and through a curriculum of opportunity, where curiosity is valued and encouraged, and each student can experience personal, physical, creative, and aesthetic expression within a strong and rigorous academic framework.

● BISP believes that the purpose of formal education is to develop the necessary skills to maximize the potential of young people, thereby enabling them to lead quality lives.

March | 2020

●

●

The core skill is 'learning how to learn', and this can only be developed through an understanding of the physiological and neurological processes that underpin learning, supported by the on-going promotion of critical self-reflection.

Compassion and a strong values framework must lie at the heart of the educational process and collectively and individually, all members of the BISP community should, through discernable action, demonstrate a concern for the welfare and support of others.

The Winning Moments Over the years, the students of BISP have secured many awards, achievements, and recognitions under their names. Few of their win-win moments involve a team of young scientists from the school, who won the MIT Asia/Pacific challenge and went to the finals in Boston, the BISP band was selected to play at Disneyworld Hong Kong and also to play on the Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior, and more than thirty young athletes have represented their countries, including at the Youth Olympics (Gold Medal) SEA Games.

Also, there are several eminent former students involved in the entertainment, sporting, and management industries. More impressively, the students have represented Thailand at public speaking in the British Council global speaking competition. Most recently a violinist was selected to play at the Global IB Conference in Bangkok. As for sports, many of the school's students have represented their

35

countries at a variety of sporting and artistic events.

An Overview of the School's Programs BISP consists of pre-school, primary, and secondary categories, which further provide full boarding services from the age group 8-18 years. The school offers standard education programs including the English National Curriculum, IGCSE, IB Diploma, and US qualifying High School Diploma for the development of the student. The ESL and learning support units, counselor, and educational psychologist, Modern Foreign Languages department, extra-curricular, and co-curricular programs, school transportation service, two 24-hour infirmaries with qualified nurses, security, and highquality refectory are some of the many excellent amenities that the school bestows for its students. Also, the school promotes high-performance sports academies in Swimming, Football, Tennis, Triathlon, Golf and many more. It also hosts major international sports tournaments and summer camps for students which include sports, adventures and many more fun activities.

A Word about the Voice and Values In the course of time, BISP has gained the title of a brand entity in the education fraternity. To maintain this stature in the future, the school stands true to its values and goals. With its principled ethical work and study approach, the school has followed some significant pointers for the longer run, which are:

● It aims to be mindful of the needs and rights of others.

● Be honest in its dealings. ● Practice peaceful intentions. ● Be considerate of its actions. ● As an encompassing general statement : 'Treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself.

“BISP is committed to a holistic education for a non-selective student body. This approach is based upon a unique program called the ' Triple Helix' with the component parts of Learning, Wellbeing, and Passion.

The school is an extremely happy environment for all who attend and work there” is the voice of the brand.

Strengthening with Time Currently, many international schools are operating in Thailand and the education fraternity has reached a saturation point. However, none of them have the unique “Triple Helix” program and can match the exceptional sporting success in combination with high academic and artistic achievements. At BISP on the contrary, there lies a wide spectrum for students as the school offers wideranging facilities and opens many doors of career opportunities and exposures. The students at BISP are happy and visionary individuals, who have their strong personalities and can lead their goals to the forefront.

Helping and guiding the students throughout, the British International School is setting an example by its meticulous performance. “Students are

happy at the school; there is extremely low staff turnover, and there are exceptional opportunities at the highest levels in a broad variety of disciplines”, adds the school.

In the upcoming times, the school aims to expand its outreach to more students from across the world.

March | 2020

A

s an aspiration, India looks to contribute in every aspect of the global economy and society. However, various institutes are facing a pertinent question that begs an urgent answer. How will they prepare the children to meet these aspirations?

The education system in India has turned into null and void, creating employees with a work profile utterly inadequate. Moving forward with this system will not result in the progress of the country. Some policies are bringing much-needed reforms. However, the pace of these reforms is inattentive. It is important to understand that a child's thinking is far different from the adults. Over time, as they will step into different stages of life, they develop more sophisticated ways to understand the world.

The active, constructive, and longlasting learning process hone the skills of the school going kids, teaching them to use their brains more effectively, and stimulate their attention to engage in multitasking successfully, and embellish their memory with a new set of skills. Furthermore, cognitive skill is a prerequisite for evaluating information and analyzing a myriad of issues. Therefore, to improve the cognitive skills of a student, the school and institute should focus on the academic performance of the student.

Enhancing cognitive skills in the school allows students to generate new ideas with the help of previous knowledge.

This method up-skills the students to make connections and apply new

36

concepts to what they already know.

Furthermore, a deep perception of topics and stronger learning ability can develop the mindset of the students with a positive approach towards the schoolwork.

There are several benefits for the schools to teach their students the cognitive skills for a better future.

Ability to Grasp Knowledge Promptly A cognitive learning space improves the command of the subjects. In this method, students explore practical ways of implementing what they have already learned, which helps in understanding the “why” behind a topic and how it actually fits into a larger picture.

This process encourages students to take a hands-on approach to learn, allowing them to explore the material and develop a deeper understanding of the subject.

Creative thinking skills involve using strategies to clear the mind so that the generated thoughts and ideas can exceed the limitations of a current problem and surpass the barriers that prevent new solutions from being found.

Improve the Memory and Concentration Level While the drill-and-kill memorization involves monotonous teaching, which hampers the motivation of students to learn new things, cognitive learning helps students gain a deeper

understanding of a subject. It allows students to build upon previous knowledge and ideas. Activities that engage the brain in constant challenging ways are the “exercises” that help improve cognitive skills and abilities.

This method of learning helps the students to make connections and apply new concepts to what they already know. Moreover, creativity and knowledge together are the auto components of human experience as it involves a dynamic relationship between learning and creativity.

Develops Problem-Solving Skills The cognitive learning space allows the students to acquire the skills which can be applied to any subject and builds a problem-solving attitude.

Activities, such as wool webs, scavenger hunt, skits, build a model out of blocks, crossword, and picture puzzle, refine the problem-solving skills. This strategy clears the mind of students so that his/her thoughts and ideas can exceed the current limitations of a problem and move towards new solutions which are hard to discover.

From word problems in a math class to persuasive speeches and papers avails in the creative thinking skills and rationality of the students to search perspectives and generate new solutions.

March | 2020

Boosting Self-Confidence

Instill Keenness to Learn More

Cognitive learning focuses on the mindset, methods, and behaviors, which help to develop the student's creative intelligence. Moreover, it helps in the acceptance of new changes and to fulfill social and moral responsibilities for the improvement of social situations. Cognitive learning also focuses on experimentation and practice.

The cognitive learning approach gives students the chance to reflect on what they are learning and how it can be applied in reality. Cognitive learning generates the most effective way for the students to retain and its application correctly. This teaching allows the children to learn how a “big picture” approach to learning to understand how smaller thoughts fit into more significant ideas.

A deeper understanding of topics and stronger learning skills, enable the students to complete schoolwork with enthusiasm and confidence. Creativity, along with curriculum, empower the students to be innovative and also motivate them to learn new things.

Brief About the Author

Giving students the chance to engage in passionate learning makes it even more fun and exciting. This helps students develop a lifelong love for learning outside of the classroom.

It encourages diversity of ideas, opinions, and perspectives and helps

the student to think literally and approach problems from multiple perspectives.

Compared to the traditional classroom approach where the teacher provides face-to-face instruction and communication to the students and does not cater to innovation and creativity, cognitive learning involves a dynamic, effective and abiding learning space for the students to grow. With these skills, students become better learners, increase selfconfidence, and develop a problemsolving attitude. As a matter of fact, a qualified curriculum should involve such courses and activities that are connected with creativity, and critical thinking, and science, philosophy, ethics, and cultural studies.

Ms. Alka Kapur - Principal, Modern Public School

Ms. Alka Kapur, the principal of Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh India, is an icon in the world of education. She has been the custodian of a school's ideals, of the beliefs it cherishes and its permanent hopes. Under her inspiring tutelage and leadership, the school has marched ahead in full stride. She is a lady of sublime virtues who carve a distinct niche for her in the hearts of students, parents, and teachers. Her dedication and devotion along with the compassionate nature for the weaker sections and downtrodden strata of the society is worth appreciation. The school has reached unprecedented heights of success and has entered into a galore of new glory in her august present.

A Luminary in the Education World Ms. Alka Kapur is not only the chief steward of MPS but the soul of this wonderful institution. Her novel thoughts and deep insights brought enormous laurels to MPS at national as well as international level. She joined MPS on 1 July 1998 as a Primary teacher and was promoted within a span of 2 years. Under her regime as the Head of the School, MPS made commendable progress and achieved various preset goals.

Alka is a widely-traveled person; she is well-versed with the system of education around the world. Her first-hand experiences with the educators at various conferences all over the world have given leverage to many educational programs in India and abroad.

Responsibilities Conferred Upon Her by Various Institutions of Excellence : An Executive Committee Member of Forum of Public Schools in India.

Joint Secretary of Sahodaya Schools, North West Delhi, India A member of the esteemed panel of Inspection Committee of schools across the globe for up gradation, affiliation, of the schools.

Has been a Nodal Supervisor for CBSE Class XII English Examination for almost a decade.

Has been working as Environment Crusader in collaboration with TERI, an institution for the research on the environment.

Has been prominently associated with various NGOs. To name a few, Cancer Society of India, Red Cross Society, Sarthak Prayas, Old Age Homes A member of Quality Education Asia for Curriculum Development at Primary, Middle and Senior Secondary level.

A member of the Forum of Quality Education for All. A member of various School Managing Committee of Renowned Schools of Delhi.

Awards and Titles Alka's life has been embellished with numerous awards and distinctions for her distinguished service and contribution to the field of education. Her innovative strategies and dedication have made her the proud recipient of the following awards such as Inspiring Educator award by Rocksport; International Educator award 2019 by CED Foundation at Bangkok; Bestowed with Life Empowerment Award by Expressions India, Guru Drona Awards 2018 by Shri. Manoj Tiwari, to name a few.

37

March | 2020

With the motto 'When We Play, We Learn', Storytime Preschool aims to provide its students with a pleasant and thoughtful environment and nurture every child's well-being through a remarkable learning experience.

E

stablished in January 2003, Storytime Preschool highly focuses on creating a safe, loving, nurturing and happy environment, which allows children to blossom to their true potential. This is the school's vision, which reflects in its core values followed by every individual and the community. Over the years, the school has seen tremendous growth and relocated from

Soi Ruam Rudee to Sukumvit 4. Simmi Rajkitkul is the Founder of the school, she is a Malaysian, but is residing in Thailand for more than three decades

.The

Student-Parents Centric Approach Storytime Preschool incorporates theme-based learning lessons that relate to day-to-day life. Integrating this into the syllabus helps build confidence and students enjoy roleplay and themes based learning for a variety of subjects. For example, during science classes, experiments are a must, while the Math class is held outside the classroom in a garden.

After a long week, Friday is usually “Fun & Free”, where students interact and play with classmates, as children feel free to express themselves, the learning experience becomes fun. Also, the school encourages reading and hosts a Book Week, where parents and older students read to the students. It believes that connecting and involving the parents on every step of the journey is imperative for the student's development and progress. This helps grow a bond and healthy relationship between the students, parents, and the school.

38

The parents are kept updated with their children's daily performance, the teachers maintain a “My Day Book” for each child and the school sends out a bi-weekly newsletter about their children's work and active participants and also gives insights about the upcoming activities. Also, in addition to this, the school holds Parent Teacher's Days, where the cards are distributed and performances are discussed.

An Overview of the Curriculum and Programs Storytime Preschool embraces a friendly and family-oriented environment, where the children feel safe and secure. On the contrary, it's curriculum and programs are designed for motivating and challenging activities and learning processes that nurture every student's physical, mental, and social growth.

The student's follow regulatory

guidelines and structured programs and have a well-balanced routine for both academics and spontaneous activities. A sneak peeks into the student's routine includes a wide range of activities, proper meals and snack times, outdoor play, sleep, and breaks. This routine is thoroughly followed and the children are pushed to actively participate in activities that enable an overall growth using the “learn by doing” practical methods.

There are a bunch of activities provided after school also, which are ESL, Thai Cultural Class, Yoga, Soccer, Piano, Dance, Voice Training, Cooking and many more. The school also provides an after school care until 6 pm for working mothers. It also holds ESL classes (English as a Second Language) to students, where English is not their first language. This program consists of conversation, vocabulary, sentence construction, and reading.

March | 2020

Storytime also offers weekly playgroups to toddlers every Tuesday and Wednesday morning from 9.30 to 11.30 am and another popular playgroup runs on Thursday afternoons from 3 to 4.30 pm. The teacher guides the children for one and a half-hour of many different activities using different themes each week. To name a few of them are gardening, environment art/craft, baking, making play dough, singing, storytelling, and many others. BAMBI Nana Playgroup is held at Storytime every last Saturday of the month.

Besides the playgroups, the school also offers camps throughout the year, there are midterm camps in February, April, and October; during the midterm breaks, summer camps in July and August and finally a winter camp in December each year. The camps are filled with exciting educational themes and offer a lively and fun experience.

These camps are well organized i.e. the meals are provided and van service is available. Also, right from preparing their snacks, doing arts and crafts using natural objects, community helper's role play, acknowledging different music and movement, environment awareness, recycle workshop, gardening and field trips, there are a bunch of excellent and energetic activities.

1. School type - International Kindergarten 2. Year Founded - 2003 3. School Website - https://storytimepreschool.org/

classrooms, furnished, and equipped to meet the needs of each specific age group.

Bestowing a Holistic Platform “With the school's mantra “When We Play, We Learn”, the students learn through play first hand.”

Storytime is an enjoyable learning home to toddlers from the age of 18 months to 6 years old. Over the course of time, the school has advanced and its exceptional performance and utmost offerings are acknowledged by many. It is being selected in THE 10 MOST VALUABLE PRESCHOOLS IN THAILAND 2019 list.

“We like to leave the communication line open with parents. We like to invite parents to participate in many of our events, with the most popular one being International Day, held every year in June. Parents set up a room representing their country, and introducing all students to their culture, food, songs and more”, states the concerned.

Primary Infrastructure and Amenities Storytime has a huge open space which includes a secure garden area, large shaded lawn, a sand play area, water play area, bicycle track, a digging and planting area, slides, swings, and a playhouse. The garden is the focal point of children's daily activities, where the children spend most of their time performing sports and activities. The school provides the toddlers, nursery, kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes have separate

2019 rd

Term 2 : 6 January, 2020 to 3 April, 2020 Term 3 : 23rd April to 26th June, 2020

5. Academic Calendar Term 1 : August 14th to December 13,

7. Campus size (acres) : 250 sq wah

Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.

39

The Final Words Many new international schools are coming up in Thailand. At Storytime Preschool, the school emphasis on constantly developing and enriching the content of the curriculum to ensure the students benefit from a learning experience of the highest international standard. The testimonials on the school's website show one thing in common; the students at Storytime are happy and growing while being aware of their surroundings.

8. Student-faculty ratio : 2: 10 th

6. Campus Setting : Green large shaded garden with outdoor equipment, , small parking area, indoor play area, snack area, playgroup room, drama / music room, water play and sand play area.

4. Address - #85, Soi Samaharn, Sukhumvit Soi 4,

The common areas also include a dining area, music room, a drama area for role play, and a library corner. The school has installed chilled purified water pipelines in the garden and air purifiers in classrooms. The school is centrally located and a shuttle is also provided complimentary for all parents and students to and fro at Nana BTS. The school serves clean and hygiene meals twice a day with a variety of options and different menu daily. It ensures that it provides a wellbalanced diet including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. The school also carefully records the special needs of each child, whether they have food allergies or require special diets extending personal attention to the student's diet and health as a strong point.

9. Name the student services; - food services for various allergies, - health services, pertaining to a child's requirement for asthma, allergies etc.

- academic advising - enrolment advising for grade 1 onwards after graduating from kindergarten.

March | 2020

T

he countries are on the verge of taking a leap into a higher track and entering the marathon of the globally acceptable education system which rests on its human resources from a large population and efforts to withstand and establish itself in various divisions of economic and academic areas. There are a lot of complex education systems around the planet.

There has been much improvement in the traditional system considering the increase in literacy rate over the years; the system still has a long way to go before the families decide to let their kids opt for state education.

40

March | 2020

The System since Decades The Traditional Education system has its original roots dating back to 5000 BC which was completely teachercentric. The system laid more emphasis on the teacher-student relationship. The teachers were given prime importance and students used to receive moral values and education including real-life skills practiced in their lives after school. The traditional education system was effective in its way as it taught math, reading, writing, philosophy, arts, and science administration and social studies. It gave the teachers the freedom to apply their methods and turn the child into a functioning adult. Although it paid more attention to severe tribunals and ordeals; every child who passed them was certiďŹ ed to graduate.

The best part of this system was it was a share of nature and was not spaced out from it. The students performed meditation and progressive education practices of self-control. The main objective of the system was to pass on the values, manners skills and social practices to the next generation to ensure their survival. In their way of learning and knowing things, the students are introduced to the customs and traditions of the society they are part of. The fact that this system produced notable intellects and paved the way for their educational theories to get renowned

41

by the world, is surely impressive.

Though many features are distinctive and appreciable in the traditional system of education from any other system around the world, why do we still need to reform the system and opt for changes? The system had certain drawbacks that were required to transform as the generations change and the world modernized. The system primarily lacked required room for research at a global level. No one was authorized to check the education degree of the teacher appointed at the institute which gave the teacher some sort of authority to lead to abuse of power. Other shortcomings incorporated discrimination, child labour, no predeďŹ ned format of education, less exposure to the outside world and many more.

Internationalization of the Education System around the Globe Internationalization is considered a revolutionary step in the development of Higher Education. Internationalizing a school or any educational trust means opting for the globally recognized curriculum syllabus, different from the hosting nation, and guiding the students accordingly. It includes the introduction of various activities and plans for the evaluation process of the students. As the education system evolved from traditional schools during the medieval period to now in practice modern

education system, there were steady but effective methods implemented for the growth of a child's physical and mental health. This system encourages and prepares the students to perform excellently in the complex universal environment of education.

International schools provide international education which is a worldly accepted dynamic concept that encompasses motion in the ideas of students beyond national boundaries. It allows the students to think of critical solutions for problems at the global level. Students have no restrictions on their thoughts on any cultural and political basis. The system lays more emphasis on the globalization process and favours to eradicate the geographic as well as economic and social barriers.

To Conclude International education is developing as the world progresses. Every other developing country aims to adopt this form of education for its students to prepare them for global competitions at every stage of life. The international system of education motives to promote global awareness and understanding and engage the students to comprehend different global issues around the world. The system wants students to work effectively in a cross-cultural environment and learn and upgrade themselves with current technology in addition to the exchange of different learning sources among the pupils.

March | 2020

E

ducation is the prime importance of every human life. Across the world, teachers who graduated in America, Britain, Australia, and other English-speaking countries are being imported to teach students from high-class societies and nowadays even middle-class families of developing countries. The students are taught to expand their perspective and think critically for problems comprising global issues. The international system of education involves internationalization which means “incorporating a global outlook into the education.� There are several complex types of education systems in the world. It has been changing as the powers changed over the years.

42

March | 2020

Traits Surrounding the International Education System Most of the countries liberated from the British colonial government have adopted the British colonial education system which is a modernized system with constant involvement of technology along with curriculum learning. The modern education system believes to provide “affordable, compulsory and common education” to every individual around the globe.

The system complies with the right of every child to have education up to 14 years of age. The child can further decide whether to have higher education or not.

The international education system focuses on increasing academic excellence by applying the initiative such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The IB program is a universal, non-profit education initiative established to provide every student with the opportunity to receive a quality education. The education system purposes to develop students' physical, intellectual, personal, emotional and communal skills.

Need for Adopting International Education What demands the nations exclude their traditional system opt this modernized way of learning? There are several qualities that the international system imbibe. These provisions and amenities pave the way for the system to get adopted by every other nation. The students get to come

43

out of their traditional bubbles where they have nurtured all their life and experiment with real-life scenarios. It is believed that international education is a catalyst for revolutionizing change in the world. It broadens the academic experience by the introduction of different cultures, ethnic groups, religions and traditions, languages and the elevating society prevailing in various parts of the globe.

Education is the forefront for global development and with globalization, it is making it easier for the families to provide their kids opportunities where they can explore their genres and openly implement them as a career.

With the increase in international schools in different countries, the international system has reached the core and is developing nations with its transforming strategies and plans. The learners have golden opportunity to interact with teachers from all four corners of the world ensuring actual global experience. The students have accelerated fluency in speaking, writing and reading foreign languages.

It provides leadership opportunities and opportunities for personal growth and finding new interests by imbibing self-confidence and life experience.

Emerging Hurdles in Front of the International Education System Quality of higher education has become a crucial agenda of the countries globally. Education has become a nationwide concern for developing countries with international aspects. To meet the expected context, the developing countries hustle and assure the quality of their higher

education at a nationally equivalent and internationally satisfactory standard. These reasons force the international education system to strategize policies and develop new and engaging methods to be applied wherein the students have daily updates and hands-on practice of know-how in the world.

Increasing access to education with the help of international schools proved beneficial in the overall aspect of education. Yet, there are developing countries where children's access is limited to learning due to numerous factors. Language barriers, reduced government funding, gender roles, child labour are all more or less equally contributing as an obstacle in the education system. Developing countries can't rely exclusively on their finance for education which limits the proper functioning of the schools and organizations.

The limited funding puts a barrier on the organization's environment as well.

A child cannot learn without the right environment. Outdated books and torn pages are common among a group of students. Teachers need to equip themselves with the necessary materials to help the students prepare their lessons. Despite having the right to education, many students, especially disabled pupils are not allowed a normal learning environment. A combination of discrimination, lack of preparation and unapproachable schools are the reasons for the denial of their education. Other major factors can be gender, migration, the expense of education, the distance of the school from home, geographical barriers, hunger, and poor nutrition and many more.

March | 2020