TNS Beaconhouse is experiencing another educational system known as International Baccalaureate (IB) in Lahore after O and A Levels and the emphasis is to create a sense of identity and cultural awareness among students by linking with other citizens of the world.
“Though the IB system is not new in Pakistan, but it being introduced in Lahore for the first time with the aim to convince the Punjab government to introduce this system also in its public schools especially in the newly-introduced Danish Schools System,” Beaconhouse Chief Executive Kasim Kasuri said while addressing a press conference on Thursday. TNS Head of School Clive Barnes and TNS Deputy Head Ayesha Kasuri were also present on this occasion. “We will be sending our teachers abroad for training so initially this would be expensive but we are hoping that other private school will also climb aboard,” Kasuri said, adding that this was a good system since it stimulated curiosity and enquiry in students about discovery and enjoyment of learning.
Barnes said the IB incorporated three programmes for students aged 3 to 19 but initially the TNS had been authorised to offer the IB Middle Years Programme for students in classes 6 to 10. He said the IB course was designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing like perception, emotion, language and reason and different kinds of knowledge such as scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical.
He said the recent research carried out by ACS International Schools, whose schools have taught the IB for more than 30 years, reveals an IB diploma is the most respected post-16 qualification among university admissions officers. TNS Deputy Head Ayesha Kasuri said the TNS educational experience revolved around the ‘project-based learning’ approach which, the school believed, developed in students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills. She said TNS students were natural candidates for the IB which was based on the philosophy of enquiry-based learning. She said the TNS new school for offering IB course would open on March 26 in DHA Phase V, Lahore with large classrooms of an international standard, laboratory and media suites, music and art-studios, a 3-storey library block, underground parking, multi-purpose hall, swimming and other sporting facilities. She said it was purposed-designed to provide a fully-resourced and stimulating learning environment.
