The 10 Most Admired Schools in Saudi Arabia, 2021

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October | 2021 Issue - 02

Education In-Focus The Land of Black Gold – A Paradise of Educational Opportunities

Education Highlights Trends Driving the Transformation of K-12 Education

10 The

Most

Admired

Schools

in

Saudi Arabia

EDITOR’S NOTE

SAUDI ARABIA TREASURING THE GEMS OF ACADEMIC AND CAREER EXCELLENCE

S

audi Arabia is not only recognized for its significant stock of natural resources, including oil, gas, and minerals, but it also pays equal attention to education, research, science, and technology. The country believes that education is essential for social and economic transformation. It has always focused on uplifting the educational system by introducing new education programs.

Accordingly, Saudi Arabia has established numerous universities, schools, and technical institutes, which deliver excellent educational facilities, while providing equal opportunity to each student to learn, grow, and build a bright career for themselves.

The most prominent schools of Saudi Arabia adopt the best curriculum designed for the students’ overall development. They employ a research-oriented

approach and a career-focused procedure, which help students take on stiff professional arena challenges.

These schools assist the students in developing their personality, which helps the students perform or speak in public without any hesitation.

With cutting-edge technology, these schools deliver lasting learning experiences. They help the students become better versions of themselves so that they can overcome every obstacle and transform it into better opportunities. With a focus on academic excellence, these noteworthy schools leave no stone unturned to deliver the best classroom sessions.

These schools nurture the talents of the students and help them to stand tall on the extra-curricular front.

They believe in equality and give every student a chance to explore their potential and learn something new. With an emphasis on the future, these admired schools assist the students to sharpen their skills, which would help them make a mark for themselves in the times to come.

These leading schools possess all the credentials to offer top-notch education facilities. They are endowed with well-qualified teachers, a career-focused and personalized approach, and excellent infrastructural facilities, which are, in turn, focused on building a bright career pathway for every student.

Hence, to celebrate the achievements of the renowned schools in Saudi Arabia, The Knowledge Review presents to you its brand-new issue, The Most Admired Schools in Saudi Arabia, 2021. To know more about these renowned schools, flip through the pages. T R

l Das

a Ananda Kam

Ananda Kamal Das ananda@insightssuccess.com

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14 08 Jeddah International School Al Faris International School Nurturing Creative and Independent Global Leaders of Tomorrow

New World International School

Creating Global Citizens through American, French Baccalaureate, and International Curriculum-based Education

The Training Ground for Future World Changers

A r t i c l e

18

Education Highlights Trends Driving the Transformation of K-12 Education

C O N T E N T S Education In-Focus

30

The Land of Black Gold – A Paradise of Educational Opportunities

36

Nobles International School Offering Quality Education, Stimulating Holistic Growth

A r t i c l e

22

34

The Viral Kids

Maven’s Opinions

Social Media and the new generations

Compassion in Education

C X O

People behind this edition sales@insightssuccess.com Editor-in-Chief Senior Editor Managing Editor Assisting Editor Contributing Writer

Sumita Sarkar

OCTOBER, 2021

Anish Miller Ananda Kamal Das

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Name of the Institution

URL

Brief

Adhwaa Multinational Academy

mnariyadh.com

The academy aims to provide high-quality education that delivers a transformative learning experience

Al Faris International School

alfarisschool.com

Al Faris International School aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better world

Coral International School

coralschool.edu.sa

Coral School aims to instill 21st century skills among the children, while inspiring them to become lifelong learners

Dhahran High School

isg.edu.sa

The school ensures that the students aspire to their fullest intellectual potential

Etehaad International School, Jeddah

etehaad.edu.sa

The school offers high-quality education, while adopting standardized curricula and diversied activities

Jeddah Knowledge International School

jischool.org

JIS aims to prepare 21st century learners to excel in the global community

MADAC Schools

madac.edu.sa

The school aspires to be a worldwide leader in improving children’s lives

New World International School

newworldschool.com.sa

The school assists students to become condent, responsible, and innovative learners

Nobles International School

nis-jeddah.com

NIS is a premiere educational institution offering quality education to children

The Learning Caravan International School

tlc-riyadh.com

TLC provides an ambience where students thrive and learn efciently

Al Faris

International School Nurturing Creative and Independent Global Leaders of Tomorrow

E

ducation transforms students into future leaders while unleashing their potential. The leading schools in Saudi Arabia are taking every step to ensure overall development of the students and bringing out the best in them. One such renowned school embracing innovation and excellence while delivering the best educational and career development opportunities is Al Faris International School (FIS).

It is a fully certified IB World School. It follows the philosophy and teaching methodology of the IB Programme, which centers on inquiry-based learning whereby students actively guide the learning process

We aim to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world

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The 10 Most Admired Schools in Saudi Arabia

through inquiry and discovery, reflect on their learning and translate knowledge into action.

Today's Al Faris International School began as a modest institution in 2003, offering an American curriculum to 360 enrolled students. The goal of its Owner and Director, Mrs. Sahar Al Marzouki, was to open new opportunities for Saudi youth. To this end, she campaigned to ensure Saudi students’ access to international schools so that they would benefit from the breadth of global education. In 2011, FIS moved to its new (and current) home, providing opportunities for improvements, including expanded sports facilities (indoor and outdoor basketball and soccer courts, exercise rooms, and two indoor swimming pools); fully equipped computer and science labs, cafeterias, libraries, art rooms; outdoor spaces and an auditorium. The curriculum also continued to grow, and by 2012 FIS was recognized as one of the top international schools in Riyadh. It is respected for balancing an American curriculum with Arabic and Islamic studies and recognized as an educational trendsetter with the implementation of renowned programs such as the Daily 5 for Literacy, the Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop, and classroom technology.

The global search for innovation led to the International Baccalaureate (IB). In 2014, FIS was recognized as a candidate for certification of the IB Diploma program.

Candidacy for the Primary Years Program (PYP) and Middle Years Program (MYP) soon followed, and in 2017, FIS became a fully accredited IB World School in all three levels.

We develop intercultural understanding and respect among the students Exceptional Leadership Al Faris International School is the realization of the childhood dream of Mrs. Sahar. She credits her father, a writer, for supporting and inspiring her to achieve it. The school's name and logo, a valiant knight whose weapon is a pen instead of a sword, is a character from the pages of his book.

Mrs. Sahar tells the story of her father pointing to light in the distance and saying, "That is your school." This vision and personal engagement are what have defined FIS. Mrs. Sahar was determined to open its doors for both Saudi and expat youth to achieve their dreams with support and encouragement, just as she did. To this end, she has been a pioneer in bringing the best of global education initiatives to Saudi Arabia.

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We encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners Mrs. Sahar is an active philanthropist with prominent involvement in cancer awareness campaigns, environmental issues, and refugee assistance. She is a global voice for access to education, notably as a guest at UNESCO's 2019 conference on Children's Right to Quality Education.

A Plethora of Educational Facilities Al Faris International School emphasizes the academic development of the students. Its curriculum includes the core subjects of English, math, sciences, social studies/history, as well as Arabic, French, computer studies, robotics, arts, and physical education. Emphasis is on inquiry and discovery, reflecting on what is learned and using that knowledge for meaningful action. The school's learning approaches build social and emotional skills, college, and career-ready skills, and enhance problemsolving abilities.

Preparing Students for a Promising Career In line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and its emphasis on global outreach, a key component of the school's program is developing a sense of shared responsibility to utilize knowledge to address both community and global issues with innovation and respect for diverse ways of life and opinions. Al Faris' ultimate goal is not simply to impart facts to the students but to develop a love of learning through curiosity, discussion, and exploration. It aims to show them the methods and tools to discover their answers as life-long learners after formal education. In doing so, the school does not leave behind its own cherished culture and heritage. "Indeed, it acts as a launchpad for our students to be active and ethical global citizens ready to contribute their unique perspectives on the issues of our time," expresses the management. The organization and execution of conferences, events, and charity drives are student-led,

Going Beyond Academics Al Faris offers after-school activities for students as well as activities open to the community through the Al Faris Academy. These include a variety of sports as well as clubs for visual arts, reading, science, robotics, research, and creative writing. High school students can participate in the Model United Nations club. Students of all ages participate in various events during the school year, including cancer awareness, carnivals, themed activity days, talent shows, and community outreach projects.

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teaching them valuable planning, management, networking, and promotion skills.

Achievements in Abundance Al Faris has achieved noteworthy landmarks throughout its journey of imparting excellent educational facilities. It is a fully certified IB World School and is accredited by Cognia.

In 2019, FIS students were selected by the Ministry of Education to represent Saudi Arabia in the IEA Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). The school has conducted a student-led organization and has hosted the "Heal the World Conference" addressing the UN Global Goals for Sustainability, 2018. Al Faris' Model United Nations club hosted a student-led 2020 virtual FARISMUN Conference with 140 attendees.

Since 2016, the school has been running "Helping Refugees in Jordan," a sustainable project to support refugees living in Al Azraq, Jordan. Grade 11 and 12 students procure and take donated supplies, assist in infrastructure improvement projects, and help local schools. The project was published in the special magazine distributed at the IB Global Conference in Hong Kong, March 2019. It was also a semi-finalist in the international UN Global Social Leaders (GSL) Global Goals competition.

Tackling the Pandemic Challenge Covid-19 has disrupted the smooth operations of every industry. With the onset of the pandemic, every industry had to shift its operations from offline mode to the online arena. Fortunately, FIS experienced a relatively smooth transition to the sudden shift to online learning in 2020 as its teachers and students had already been using the Edmodo Connected Classroom, which enabled them to continue with assignments and communication.

Our objective is to provide incomparable, yet affordable education of the highest standards, in a safe and motivating environment It had worked to establish video classes on its current platform, Microsoft Teams. The beginning of the academic year 2021-22 has been a challenge to balance online learning with in-person classes, as only fully vaccinated high school students were allowed to attend school. FIS has adjusted its class sizes and maintained social distancing with creative use of space. Engaging visual reminders about good health practices have been placed throughout the school. It has effectively used its government app, Tawakalna, to monitor the vaccination status of all those entering the school and used its PDF health passport to admit vaccinated students back to campus when they become eligible.

Steps towards the Future With its unwavering dedication towards achieving academic excellence, FIS has proven that it is not static. In the future, it plans to look to an ever-changing horizon and asking, "How can we do better?"

This academic year, the school intends to launch a new student management system accessible online or through a mobile app. It features a convenient messaging platform, classroom management, access to academic reports, and a student dismissal calling system.

FIS is actively planning the construction of a new school building in Riyadh which will feature innovative indoor and outdoor spaces. It hopes to expand its outreach and bring the Al Faris educational experience to other cities in the Kingdom.

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The 10 Most Admired Schools in Saudi Arabia

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Education Highlights

Trends

Driving

the

TRANSFOR ATION of

K-12

Education

I

n the field of education, changes are expected to happen because of its dynamic nature that is dependent on many components from the upgrades of technology.

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the education sector has experienced numerous changes with trends and their uncountable benefits for students, teachers, and parents.

These changes have the capacity to influence the perspective towards the acquisition of knowledge and learning outcomes. As the pandemic crisis continues, these are the trends driving the transformation of K-12 education in different institutes:

lectures, online assessments, and virtual classroom teaching, while maintaining traditional learning methods like textbooks altogether.

1. Incorporation of multilingual learning solutions Modern education is not completely digital, but integrated learning solutions are an important part of school e-Learning. The integration of these solutions aims to give optimal digital platforms, like online

To illustrate, an intelligent solution is to link printed textbooks to audio-visual content. In addition, it can be accessed with the digital smart boards with the online assessment components.

As a result, most of the schools are currently working to implement this program with enhanced methods by improving their connectivity and infrastructure to accommodate this trend. No school wants to be left behind, especially for a virtual learning platform which is an effect of modernisation and the evolution of technology.

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In the current scenario of the education industry, all of these are working together intending to provide maximum benefits and improve learning outcomes.

1. Utilizing Augmented Reality (AR) for better comprehension Research indicates that students can retain information properly when they can grasp the knowledge with the accessible enhancements that are currently happening on the e-Learning platforms.

Retaining the information has drastically improved as schools are not just relying on textbooks anymore. They are implementing the use of audio-video materials and engaging activities by which the students can stimulate their imagination. This is one of the main reasons why schools are increasingly opting for AR for their class syllabus.

With this innovation in technology, students not just see, but experience the subject with in-depth knowledge. It helps the students to comprehend the concept as teachers can provide them with numerous personalized options to understand complex and complicated concepts effortlessly. As a result, students can understand the concepts with less amount of time required for proficiency.

Knowledge retention has taken up a new notch with these innovative learning methods, as students can understand the concept with the in-depth fundamentals which is provided by the textbooks and practical knowledge which AR is currently providing.

2. Advancing personalized learning modules The outbreak of the pandemic allowed the students to continue their learning with the help of distance learning options. As a result, they can attend their lectures with whatever devices or gadgets that are available with them without any timing constraints.

These factors are transforming the learning processes and the delivery of the educational goals, as students can learn without any barriers, and they are leveraging their strengths and completely overcoming their weaknesses.

This is a radical and a momentous change for the students as they have a new opportunity to learn in their own personal space. They also have an advantage as new platforms are providing them with personalized

instructions that help them to finish their academics with better competency levels.

New software and applications are making it easier for the students who are facing difficulties while understanding the concepts. This gives them an opportunity to surpass the limitations of the traditional learning methods.

3. The advantage of the internet of things (IOT) The internet of things has been a popular topic in the field of education because of the digital transformation which is not just anticipated by the students, but by teachers and school administrations as well. The IOT has made it significantly effortless to create a structure of daily school activities.

Also, with the help of the internet, the parents and students can track the real-time progress and the pending assignments on the school dashboard. They can also use the internet to provide the study material required to help boost studies.

4. Accumulation of formative assessment solutions Before the digital transformation, assessments consisted of pen and paper, and it was the only way to check the results or to understand the progress. The significance of learning outcomes matters a lot these days, which is why formative assessment solutions are being utilized as these tests are considered as low productive in the digital period. Students are now preparing for their academics with formative assessments like presentations, projects, and activities. These methods are dynamically delivering the goals of the curriculum, which benefits all the students, leading them to develop a skillset and produce better results in their academic studies.

Persistence of K-12 education It has become a lot more convenient to provide online education through the electronic gadgets which are available to the students. The fusion of digital education with traditional methods is delivering better results with the modern digital classroom and currently available resources.

The proper utilization of these positive elements is creating better educators, methods, and programs that are assisting educational institutions to prepare better leaders for the future.

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- Abhishek Joshi

Social media andthe

new

generations

M

illennials and Gen Z are driving the use of social media for communication, sharing information and connecting with one another.

Social media and digital technology are integrated into nearly all aspects of their lives. “To be?” or “not to be?”, and sometimes, “how much to be?” are the challenges faced by the new generations. The balance between reality and their social media image is tipped and its influence on lifestyle and behaviour is more prevalent. While social media and digital technology are integrated into nearly all aspects of their lives, it is extremely important for the new generations to safeguard themselves and to learn about the ethics and responsibility of using and sharing information on such public platforms.

Can online learning ever replace traditional classroom learning?

A successful school is defined by the learning environment it creates and by the educational experiences it provides to its children. As an institution, a school prides itself on the

academic achievements of its children as well as truly realising each individual child’s learning and growth potential and maximising it. A school also takes the time to carefully hire, train and motivate its teaching as well as non-teaching staff. This defines a traditional school education, where learning takes place in an interactive and hands-on environment.

Due to the pandemic, there has been a necessary shift of focus from an all-around educational experience to a core learning focus. The education experience has had to evolve very quickly to deliver the core requirements of learning, and while this change has been both practical and necessary, it is in no way a substitute to traditional classroom learning at school.

In a traditional school environment, children learn from one another while working collaboratively and solving problems. The in-classroom interaction allows the children to follow instructions, view demonstrations, actively participate in practical experiments, and draw inspiration and

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The Viral Kids

Shobha Anand

Director New World International School

About the Author Being an expat and a mother of young children in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Shobha Anand wanted to give her children the best education possible back in the 1980s. That’s when she established the first Kindergarten School in the Eastern Province. It’s been a wonderful journey of growth, with the kindergarten growing into a fully accredited primary and secondary school. In her inspiring journey, she has seen the education sector adapt to new and modern strategies and methods of teaching constantly. Ms Anand is very happy with the way the New World International School family has grown into a successful and well-reputed institution and looks forward to seeing her students reach their own individual successes.

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focus from the classroom environment around them. In a traditional classroom, a teacher is able to drive learning, make an assessment of the knowledge retained by the children and focus his or her energy in delivering a lesson that is best suited to the class. The presence of the teacher and peers validates and encourages learning with face-toface interaction, which is not possible with pre-recorded videos or online live instruction, where cameras may be off or microphones have been muted.

Online learning has tried very hard to mimic a traditional classroom with tools and applications to support the delivery of lessons, communication via school portals, and interactions through classroom chats and break out rooms.

This helps children feel that they are participating in a regular school day, at regular school hours, while following a regular school timetable. Accessing Zoom links, uploading classwork and homework to Google Classroom are a few skills mastered by students over the last academic year. This shift in learning style has definitely been successful in filling the gap of in-person learning in a school classroom. However, it lacks the ability to provide an all rounded-holistic educational experience that is needed to shape and nurture young minds.

A school curriculum is designed keeping all educational needs in mind. It incorporates a balance between ‘core’ learning subjects such as Math, English, Science, etc. as well as PE, Art & Craft, Library and other holistic learning areas. At school, each child is recognised as being unique, with his or her own strengths and learning capacities.

Children are encouraged to be leaders in areas of their individual strengths, and at the same time are motivated to participate in activities outside their comfort zone rather than ‘hiding behind a camera’ or excusing themselves with internet glitch issues. The social and emotional development aspect of learning as well as an overall understanding of the world is built into the school curriculum, which is difficult to achieve when sitting alone in front of a device screen. Learning at school allows dedicated time and supervision of all areas of the curriculum, and a face-toface individually-tailored mentoring program where required.

Classroom design incorporates spatial arrangements such as tables and chairs flexible for collaborative or individualistic learning, decorated school boards with ‘words for the

week’, key concept posters, house point boards or student work displayed on boards. All these elements of curriculum and design allow a classroom to serve as a stimulating learning environment where all learning goals can be met.

Traditional school classrooms do come with their own challenges, some of which are mitigated in an online environment. Teachers are able to use the “mute microphone” functions to maintain discipline while conducting their lessons virtually and pre-recorded or recorded live lessons are uploaded to the school portal and can be revisited at any time by the child. This helps when children tend to zone out or lose focus or display disruptive behaviour in a classroom. However, these challenges are addressed through professional development training that the teachers undergo at school. These training programs are hands-on practical sessions held in person, on the school premises, with professional trainers conducting 2–3-day workshops focusing on topics such as student engagement, student motivation, and differential learning in a classroom.

Incorporating these learning and teaching strategies is what helps make learning more interesting, fun, collaborative and most importantly helps with knowledge retention.

Research has been conducted on the shift from a traditional classroom to a virtual one and its impact on children. In most instances, it has been found that early childhood education and the primary years have been the most affected, with a visible drop in children enrolling in online education as well as a reduced frequency of online lessons attendance. At the same time, children in their final years of school have struggled with their fear of being able to graduate from high school due to new and different ways of predicted grades and examinations, and the uncertainty of getting into their desired choice of university.

The usage of technology in education has accelerated very quickly due to the pandemic. It has brought about increased usage of digital applications and tools and ensured connectivity and continuity for each child’s education. However, while the integration of technology in a classroom may bring about positive changes, it does not hold true for an only online model of learning to replace the learning and experiences that form the basis of education in traditional classrooms.

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New World

International School The Training Ground for Future World Changers

A

l Khobar, located on the eastern coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia emanates the pleasant aura of a seaside heaven whilst also retaining its standing as the ‘Commercial Heart of Saudi Arabia’.

The city is a beautiful mix of aweinspiring architecture, beaches drenched in tranquillity, bustling shopping centres, and the world’s longest causeways. In a nutshell, there is a lot of fun to be had in Al Khobar.

Of late, the city is also making a name for itself as a rising educational hub with foundationally sound colleges, an extensive higher education network, and illustrious schools. One such school in the city which has made a

reputation for itself as a promising, nurturing, and inspiring learning environment is the New World International School.

New World International School (NWIS) was founded in 2003, based on the tenets of providing a nurturing and welcoming elementary school.

Under the leadership of its Director, Mrs Shobha Anand, NWIS has grown steadily over the years into a premier international school in Al Khobar offering kindergarten (KG) to Grade 12. It is licensed by the Ministry of Education and is accredited by Cognia, besides being a registered Cambridge and Edexcel Centre.

The school now provides education to 2800 students. Housed in a premium locality, NWIS is a spacious facility with airy, bright, and well-decorated classrooms. It has two libraries that are well stocked with age-appropriate books which encourage reading for all students. The four IT labs have updated technology to deliver their robust curriculum. The science labs have been designed in compliance with Cambridge Assessments requirements.

NWIS is a sparkling school where cleanliness, safety, and the social and emotional well-being of its students and faculty is prioritized. It exudes a warm, nurturing, and family-like ambience, where the doors of communication are always open.

The 10 Most Admired Schools in Saudi Arabia

New World International School envisions to seek and provide a stimulating and enriching education to every child and inculcate a sense of worth and achievement through teamwork The vision and mission statement provides a roadmap for NWIS through its educational journey.

Ÿ

Develop a child’s initiative, selfconfidence, and responsibility.

Mission Statement To provide quality education to take the students towards a brighter future.

All-round Development The school offers a wide range of courses and externally validated examinations, laying the foundation for lifelong learning. The Cambridge Checkpoint Exams (Primary) are conducted in grade 5, 6 and Checkpoint Secondary is conducted in grade 7 and continue into IGCSE/AS/A level completing High School.

NWIS aims to: Ÿ Lead students to academic excellence through a well-aligned curriculum and experienced faculty members. Ÿ Foster mutual respect and understanding in students to fit into a multicultural environment. Ÿ Provide a safe, secure, and positive environment for the students entrusted in thier care.

It does not take long for visitors to the school to get a feel of the warmth and vitality that is so much a part of NWIS daily journey. The vibrant and rigorous academic and co-curricular activities, with outstanding caring educators at the helm, are designed with a clear intention for student engagement.

NWIS students take ownership of their learning and will become befitting 21st century citizens armed with skills of

Vision Statement To seek and provide a stimulating and enriching education to every child and inculcate a sense of worth and achievement through teamwork.

thinking critically, working collaboratively, effectively communicating and being creative.

Every Child Matters “We at NWIS set high expectations for our students, encouraging them to excel and raise the bar of excellence,” remarked the proud Director of NWIS – Mrs Shobha Anand. “It is our belief that young students thrive when engaged and excel when high expectations are set. Being the author of their own story helps each student develop a lifelong love for learning and self-esteem,” she added.

The school’s belief that ‘Every Child Matters’ leads it to incorporate best practices in teaching, have a consistent professional development programme for its faculty as well as give equal importance to the social and emotional wellness of its students.

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We at NWIS set high expectations for our students, encouraging them to excel and raise the bar of excellence. It is our belief that young students thrive when engaged and excel when high expectations are set

NWIS traditions build a sense of community among students and faculty. Powered with a ‘Growth Mindset’, the students’ personalities resonate with positive thinking and action.

Holistic Growth The students participate in a lot of extracurricular and co-curricular activities that include Public Speaking, Dramatics, Debating, and Model United Nations besides bagging the winning trophies in Basketball, Football and Cricket. The students are encouraged to enrol in afterschool Robotic and Abacus classes which have been met with a lot of enthusiasm. Seminars on global, social, emotional, and physical health issues are regularly conducted by students as they take responsibility and advocate for themselves.

The school’s volunteering program for the Seniors is a huge success as they earnestly mentor the youngsters in their reading, supervising them during the breaks or helping in the library. The encouragement and follow up of the teachers, including the fact that the student’s input is taken while finalising these events ensures maximum participation.

Bolstering Futures of Next Generations NWITIANS are groomed to take on their role in the future equipped with the skills of a 21st century learner.

Strategies applied to this end include blended learning and flipped classrooms, amongst other things.

Teachers provide relevant websites and platforms to encourage students to share their material with the class and transform classrooms into conducive learning spaces.

NWIS is proud of its successful accreditation by Cognia with a high index of ‘Educational Quality’. The faculty of NWIS have also made their educational excellence footprint with their students topping the Cambridge Assessments Excellence Awards consistently for the past eight years, a feat which has motivated them to raise the bar to meet global competition.

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NWIS has a 100% graduation rate as its students find placements in prestigious colleges all over the world.

Pandemic Times At the onset of the pandemic, NWIS quickly adapted to virtual classrooms, with teachers delivering successful interactive live lessons online across all year groups. To ensure safety for all at NWIS, the management devised its Reopening Risk Assessment Plan adhering to all the protective measures stipulated by the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia.

Aspiring to Make a Difference “As we commit ourselves to educational excellence, we wish to see NWITIANS making their mark in the global society, putting their Alma Mater on the world map as a hallmark of resilience and empowerment,” commented Mrs Shobha Anand.

“NWIS will do its utmost to give quality education to all ensuring that its students have been every opportunity to have a brighter future. We will help our students write great stories as they embark on their future,” concluded the astute Director of NWIS.

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Education In-Focus

The Land of

GOLD

A Paradise of Educational

S

audi Arabia is quite famous for its oil reservoirs. It is home to the largest oil fields in the world, which makes it one of the largest economies in the world.

Since 1930, the economic condition of Saudi Arabia has subsequently changed. Within a few decades, a desert nation went on to become one of the major players in the world economy. One thing that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has evolved with time apart from its rich lifestyle is its education.

Today, the enrolment for boys and girls in primary school is nearly the same with 99% enrolment and 96.3% for girls, respectively. Saudi Arabia is always in the international spotlight for dominance in the global oil market, and in the last few decades for the educational reforms that it has brought in its educational system. Saudi Arabia also has a huge significance in the middle east geopolitics and these

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educational reforms, which also turned the land of black gold into a paradise of educational opportunities brought significant change in the educational system of other middle eastern Arab countries.

Here is how the land of black gold turned into the land of educational opportunities for students.

An education system to synchronise with the oil industry Despite being an inherently rich country, Saudi Arabia has brought many reforms into action in its educational history.

Higher education in Saudi Arabia is now aiming to synchronise its economy with its strong economic hold in the oil industry. The reforms in the education system have significantly improved its educational quality and made education accessible for everyone.

The strong economy also allowed the decision-makers to invest more in its education system. the visionary king of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, now focuses on internationalising its economy. Today, Saudi Arabia homes some of the best schools in the middle east and seven out of its 16 universities are amongst the top 10 universities in the middle east. Private sector jobs and nonoil related exports are the priority of Saudi Arabia. The kingdom is right on the trajectory for the post-oil era starting its journey by bringing all the necessary reforms in schooling.

The kingdom focuses on prioritizing the home students and their growth provide to diversify its oil-dependent economy.

The opportunities that lie ahead for the students are completely skill-based. The modernized school curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, market-based study, scientific education and involves computer science and business administration in the middle, secondary, and tertiary schooling levels.

Overall development of students from primary to secondary level of schooling As a part of building a sustainable educational system, Saudi Arabia is focusing highly on developing the infrastructure of its schools and colleges. In 2018, Saudi Arabia alone built 719 new schools to bring out more jobs in the upcoming years for the young population.

Despite the modernisation of schools, the traditional study fields of Saudi Arabia are still preferred. Social sciences, religious studies, history, and literature are still a part of

Saudi Arabia’s education. Choosing a school for a youngster in Saudi Arabia has become a much-simplified process. Ever since the government of Saudi Arabia started focusing on the improving the country’s education system, private schools have also got quite a boost and freedom in their curriculum.

The addition of modern subjects in the syllabus starting from primary schooling will boost the growth of the students. Modernization in education with practical-based learning will prepare the students for a better future. The schools in Saudi Arabia have included outdoor learning and sports as part of student development in their schooling years. With global exposure, the opportunities that will bring foreign investments will help the students get global exposure from a very early age.

What does the future hold after schooling?

The development of schools is picking up the pace to keep up with the world. The government’s focus on bringing private-sector jobs have allowed the education system to change rapidly. Since primary education and secondary education have changed, there has been a drastic transformation in the curriculum of universities as well.

Today, Saudi Arabia is home to some of the top universities in the Middle East. With the addition of modern subjects such as humanities, social science, medicine, pharmacy, engineering, etc. there is a wide range of courses to choose from for the students.

Apart from that, the Saudi Arabian government has a friendly relation with most of the countries in the world.

With this initiative, the government allows scholarships for its students who wish to pursue higher education in foreign countries. Despite the fact of global exposure in other countries, Saudi Arabia is home to many international students and can be a good opportunity for the students studying in the country itself.

Saudi Arabia, with the recent education reforms, is home to some of the most diverse education systems in the world.

The schooling programs are deeply embedded with the country’s history, culture, religion, modern sciences, and advanced technologies. Saudi Arabian schools are some of the best schools in the whole Middle East. With various vocational education initiatives started by the government, Saudi Arabia is now one of the best options for the schooling of children in the Middle East.

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- Ashlesh Khadse

Maven’s Opinions

Compassion in

T

he pressures of modern life, including the relentless promotion of academic and personal achievement coupled the wealth of opportunities now available to young people, can often seem overwhelming, causing youngsters and teens to turn inward as they try to process it all. Aside from this, young people are also navigating the normal social, emotional and physical stresses of growing up, and for some the family/home environment may not be optimal. To add to it all, we are living in unprecedented times as we emerge from a global pandemic with all of its health, economic and social hardships and face sobering issues such as climate change. Now, more than ever, compassion needs to be an essential part of the school experience. What roles does compassion play in education?

The first that comes to mind is support for students, teachers and parents; but compassion is also ensuring equal access to a quality education and making it a central part of school curriculums.

Compassion in schools, first and foremost, includes relief and reassurance for students and school staff. Teachers, counselors and school administrators must have an awareness of and empathy for students of all ages who may be facing social and emotional challenges that are affecting their school work and general well-being. This cannot simply be expected, but must be developed through training workshops and school policies. Susceptibility to stress is greater due to the pandemic as young people have spent more time in relative isolation and on the internet, increasing opportunity for exposure to negative content and unhealthy messages. Kids also may have anxiety about things they hear about in the news or conversation, such as global warming. Now, more than ever, teachers must be on the lookout for students in distress, even if not overt, and approach the situation with compassion and empathy. This can be something as simple as the teacher conducting a

Education

check in poll with students at the beginning of the school day or a more comprehensive school outreach addressing issues that students may be struggling with and offering support resources. School personnel cannot be helpful if they, themselves, are under stress; therefore, anticipating and understanding the challenges faced by teachers and giving them adequate resources in curriculum development, classroom management strategies and general flexibility is key for school administrators.

Compassion also includes support for our parents through awareness of the common and individual challenges that families may be facing in different contexts. The COVID pandemic and the sudden shift to home-based online classes saw a huge disruption in children’s learning time and disruption to the routines of many families. Homes in which both parents are working and unable to support their young students during regular school hours has been a significant problem. It is important for schools to empathize with their plight and offer creative alternatives when the need arises, such as flexible hours and enrichment classes. Many families also face periodic difficulties which can affect the school attendance and performance of their students. School administrators should accept this eventuality and have advance policies in place to accommodate such situations effectively thus alleviating the worry about school.

Compassion should be an integral part of the school curriculum at all levels, and school personnel need to lead by example. Schools should not only serve as a supportive environment for learners, but also instill the idea that students too can be supporters by taking caring and compassionate actions towards themselves, their classmates, family and friends, local communities, animals and their environment.

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Mrs Sahar Al Marzouki

Owner-Director

About the Author Mrs Sahar Al Marzouki is the Owner-Director of Al Faris International School. She credits her father, a writer, for supporting and inspiring her to achieve her goals throughout her illustrious career. The school’s name and logo, a valiant knight whose weapon is a pen instead of a sword, is a character from the pages of his book.

Compassion can be referred to in lessons and activities of any subject. History and social studies can emphasize understanding and tolerance of various points of view and ways of life, sciences can focus on ensuring our good health and that of our environment, art can make a compassionate statement. Compassionate actions can be part of class Essential Agreements drafted with student input, and teachers can model and remind students of the compassionate approach as various situations arise. Visits and volunteer opportunities can be planned with a variety of community organizations working with disadvantaged people, orphans, the elderly, those with disabilities, animal welfare or environmental issues, giving our young people the chance to become aware and educated about problems and experiences which generally may not be a part of their everyday life and how they can best respond and take further action to help.

High school students at Al Faris International School have been involved in the “Helping Refugees in Jordan” project since 2016, making trips to Azraq, Jordan to distribute supplies, help in infrastructure improvement and interact with children at the local school. Involved students have come away profoundly moved through direct experience with a situation that most are only reading about in the news.

This brings us to the final role of compassion in schools, which is awareness of the value and privilege of a high quality education and the importance of extending the gift of knowledge to all with equal access opportunities. Al Faris International School was founded with the goal of providing Saudi students equal access, along with expats, to a well-rounded international education. Today approximately 70 percent of its student body in Saudi is receiving the opportunity of a global education. As the educational landscape has now been reshaped by online learning, it is also important to ensure that everyone has equal access to virtual classes and resources. The reality is that many students worldwide – even in the most affluent of countries - do not have access to personal computers, adequate internet, technical skills, or a home environment that supports online study.

As we can see, a sense of compassion plays many important roles in the school environment. It not only provides the necessary support to mitigate the stresses of the modern life for all stakeholders, but also draws our students out to understand and help others and work towards causes they believe in. This will give them a sense of more control, help to alleviate their own anxiety and build a bright future for themselves and their world. In the end, is that not the whole purpose of education?

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The 10 Most Admired Schools in Saudi Arabia

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