That's a shame really. The IB course is well worth it.
| Students enrolling for International Baccalaureate decrease as more Colleges come up |
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Kenya is among 139 countries in the world offering the internationally recognized program, IB, which prepares students for entry into international universities; but the number of kids enrolling for the IB program is now declining as parents now have more options of where to take their children.
According to Mr. Gregory Sang, the IB coordinator at St.Mary’s School, parents have other alternatives as many universities, colleges and parallel programs have come up. The school, which used to admit between 70-90 students per year for the IB diploma is now admitting an average of 50 students. ’It’s a matter of more options’ said Mr. Sang. International Baccalaureate (IB) is a program that aims at developing citizens of the world, who are well prepared academically, caring, and ready to help people. The system basically aims at developing ‘people who fit into the world’ and have a learner’s profile with aspects that each earner should strive to be. The profile requires among other things, that one be an inquirer and knowledgeable, with ability to explore concepts idea and issues that are of local and global significance; be thinkers, communicators, principled, open minded and caring. Learners should also be risk takers with an ability to approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, be balanced intellectually, emotional and physically ; and also be reflective by giving thoughtful consideration to the own learning and experience. Founded in Geneva in 1968, as non profit education program, IB started off as a Diploma program, to ensure continuity in education for international highly mobile students, and prepare them for university education. The system has since grown to include three programs for students age 3-19; the primary years program started in 1997, the middle year program started in 1994 and the diploma program. According to Mr. Sang, a student who goes through the IB program is well prepared for university as the program gives one a guarantee of passing; and it is internationally recognized by many universities. There now about 2,970 IB schools in 139 countries worldwide to offering the IB programs. In Kenya, there are five schools offering any of the three programs including International School of Kenya (ISK), Agakhan Academy Nairobi, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, Braeburn College and St. Mary’s School. St. Mary’s school has been offering IB diploma since 1983; and currently admits an average of 50 student per year; with most being boys at the ratio of 5:1 against girls. This, says Mr. Sang , ‘is more of an awareness issue’ as most of the boys are usually students at the school. Students are interviewed in September before the year of entry; and are usually accepted using their mocks and first term results. The interview is more of an oral interview, says Mr. Sang, requiring the candidates to be able to ‘express themselves’ St. Mary’s is a boys’ school from class one to High school offering both KCSE and IGCSE; and the IB diploma for both boys and girls. The IB diploma runs for two years, with an international exam where on passing, one gets the diploma. One is required to take six subjects; three at a higher level and three at a standard level. One must do two languages, one or two humanities, one or two sciences and mathematics. Mathematics is also offered in three levels- Maths Higher for wishing to take courses that require high skills in maths such as engineering, Maths standard-for those taking sciences and Mathematical studies which entails the basic mathematics skills. To instill the aspect of caring, the learner is supposed to have 150 hours of community service by the end of the two year program. Over 80 per cent of IB students at St.Mary’s get places in international universities in USA, Canada, UK, Australia Malaysia and Singapore; with the most outstanding ones even getting scholarships. International universities where students have been accepted include Cambridge, Oxford, Reading Kent, and Imperial college In UK; Dartmouth, Luther college, Massachusetts institute of technology and Wellesley in USA; McGill, McMaster and Waterloo in Canada, among others.
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