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Quarter One, 2008
Diploma Programme
Examination re-sits and re-marks
We are edging slowly towards that time of the year again when many students in this region will be taking their Diploma Programme examinations. I would like to take this opportunity to remind DP coordinators that it is essential and required that the DP coordinator in each school is available to students on and after the date of the issue of results. Every year the regional office is faced with a number of requests from students regarding examination re-sits and re-marks because they are unable to contact their DP coordinator. It is the sole responsibility of the DP coordinator in each school to deal with such requests and the regional office is unfortunately not in a position to respond to students in this matter.
School’s accountability for staff training
We are often asked, particularly by new schools, to be more precise as to the amount and frequency of training a school administration is required to provide for teachers. The IB understandably has to take account of the vastly differing contexts of schools around the world, so the advice offered may not be as precise as some would hope. However, the most important requirement is that all staff teaching in IB schools in this region must be trained prior to authorization, subject to availability of workshops. Subsequent to authorization, schools should provide (and pay for) appropriate Diploma Programme workshop training on a regular basis, ensuring that all teachers are as up to date as possible with their subject’s development.
Workshop levels and provision
As the number of schools in the region continues to grow, the number and variety of workshops will also grow. Level 1 workshops are designed solely for teachers new to the subject and usually new to the IB, while level 2 workshops are designed for teachers who have one or two years of experience in teaching the subject. It is the responsibility of DP coordinators to ensure that teachers are registered for the correct workshop level. It is our intention to expand the nature of level 3 workshops in order to provide greater breadth of professional development for teachers. The recent level 3 English A1 level workshop in Delhi and the three level 3 Science workshops in Kuala Lumpur next month are all examples of this development.
New CAS guide
By now everyone has had a chance to read the new CAS guide.
I would like to urge coordinators to ensure that heads of
school/principals also read this guide as the implications for a
school of CAS (from both the old and the new guide) are
significant and very much embody the philosophy of the IB. An
effective CAS programme requires significant resourcing, both
in terms of personnel and budget, and therefore needs the
wholehearted support of a school’s administration.
Choice of Group 2 language levels
It is never easy for coordinators to ensure that all students have
been placed precisely in the correct level for their group 2
language option. Sometimes the ‘correct’ level is not available
for some languages in this region. However, the key
requirement is that students should be taking a language course
that provides them with appropriate challenge for the two years
of the course. When, for example, a language is available at A2
and B, students should not take the B option because it is ‘easy’
and therefore provides an opportunity for a ‘7’ if their level of
language proficiency indicates that the appropriate course is A2.
Group 6 offerings
With the growing number of options available in group 6 (Film is
now included, for example) it is hoped that schools will continue
to promote the value of group 6 for students. This task is
becoming a little easier as some university systems are
reducing their requirements for two sciences for some courses.
Any school seeking authorization is expected to offer at least
one group 6 subject.
DP coordinator’s curriculum role
One of the IB’s standards and practices that impacts on the role
and authority of the DP coordinator is standard B1, practice 8,
which reads in part that the coordinator should “demonstrate
pedagogical leadership”. I mention this not because this
leadership is not occurring, but rather because in some schools’
structural/organizational charts the placement of the DP
coordinator does not indicate that he/she has the appropriate
authority to offer a leadership role. This matter comes up for
discussion both with new schools and sometimes during the five
year review process and may prompt some useful discussion.
We would also like to remind coordinators of the need to ensure
that any student who needs results sent directly to universities has details entered through form B2. Every year the regional office receives distress calls from students who have not been notified of the need to do this and whose university place is then in jeopardy.
Schools due for Five Years review for May and November 2009
May 2009
1. 2090 American International School of Guangzhou
2. 1495 Auckland International School
3. 1529 Bali International School
4. 1730 Beijing No: 55 High School
5. 0432 Brent International School-Manila
6. 1165 Cebu International School
7. 2114 Chatsworth International School, Singapore
8. 2151 Ecole Mondiale World School
9. 0514 French International School
10. 0929 Hanoi International School
11. 0307 International School Bangkok
12. 1525 International School of Eastern Seaboard
13. 2149 Jamnabai Narsee School
14. 2120 K International School Tokyo
15. 2121 Oriental English College, Shenzhen
16. 0399 Seisen International School
17. 1163 Sekolah Peliat Harapan – Karawaci
18. 1164 Sekolah Pelita Harapan – Sentul
19. 2150 SelaQui World School
20. 2115 SMU Kristen Cita Hati School
21. 0450 St. John’s School
22. 2213 Taejon Christian International School
23. 2215 The British School, New Delhi
24. 2091 Utahloy International School, Guangzhou
25. 1496 Yew Chung Int College Shanghai, China
26. 0339 Yokohama International School
27. 1121 Canadian School of India
Nov 2009
1. 0537 Glenunga International High School
2. 1178 John McGlashan College
3. 2153 Kardinia International College
4. 2165 KDU Smart School Sdn Bhd
5. 0434 Kristin School
6. 1175 Macedon Grammar School
7. 1159 MLC School
8. 2152 Mountain Creek High School
9. 0245 Overseas School of Colombo
10. 0506 Pembroke School
11. 0257 Port Moresby International School
12. 2109 Ravenswood School for Girls
13. 0505 S.C.E.G.S.
14. 1161 Somerset College
15. 1071 The Friend’s School
16. 0520 The Kilmore International School
Nigel Forbes-Harper, DP Regional Manager
Stephen Keegan, DP Associate Regional Manager
Deirdre Chang-Hufton, Personal Assistant
Email: ibapdp@ibo.org
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