Best of a premier Canadian system
CANADA is one of the leading educational influences in the world, as evidenced by internationally validated assessments such as Programme for International Student Assessment and the percentage of students graduating high school and attending postsecondary educational institutions.
At Sunway International School (SIS), the curriculum is guided by the Ontario Ministry of Education, modified to be culturally relevant and responsive, and able to support students in achieving the expectations outlined for each grade level. SIS teachers use programme documents from Ontario to develop lesson and unit plans, assessment strategies and learning experiences to fit into Malaysian and Asian values while staying true to the Canadian framework.
The Canadian (Ontario) full-day kindergarten and primary school programmes, from Grade 1 to Grade 6, are offered at SIS’ Sunway Iskandar campus in Medini, Johor. The SIS campus in Sunway City in Selangor, currently offering the Canadian (Ontario) secondary school programme from Grade 7 to Grade 11, will be expanding its campus with Grade 1 to Grade 6 offerings in 2023. Both SIS campuses offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme as well.
Individual learners
In line with the Ontario ethos, SIS is committed to providing inclusive education, working towards removing barriers and creating conditions needed for all students to be successful. Special education programmes and services provide extra support to help children with special needs.
Some students may need short-term help while others have complex learning needs, be they from a behavioural, communication, intellectual or physical aspect, or a
combination of two or more. Each of these students will need support over time. In addition, English as a Second Language (ESL) support is available for students who are new English language learners.
Teaching strategies
To help each student take the next step in their learning, SIS teachers use individualised methods of instruction for learning activities in class and through homework. Teachers also combine different teaching strategies. For example, a teacher might instruct the whole class to introduce a story, then ask students to work in groups to look at different story examples and then follow up with individual students who require specific instruction and assistance.
This range of strategies and methodologies allows students to have a wider range of
experiences and learn in many different ways. This is how SIS teachers ensure all students have experienced the curriculum and made progress in achieving curricular expectations.
Encouraging communication from the primary level
Students at SIS are encouraged to think critically and understand conceptually. They learn to sort facts from assumptions, think logically, ask questions, form opinions about what they learn and express their opinions to the whole class.
Working in groups is also important at the primary level to develop students’ language and communication skills. Students will learn to collaborate with others, share responsibility, listen and learn from the opinions of others, develop research skills, form and test opinions, take initiative, pose questions and take risks.
Assessment for and as learning
Assessment is the process of gathering information that reflects student progress towards achieving the curriculum expectations in a subject. The primary purpose of assessment is to improve student learning. Assessment for the purpose of improving student learning is seen as both assessment for learning and assessment as learning.
As part of assessment for learning, SIS teachers provide students with descriptive feedback and coaching for improvement. Teachers engage in assessment as learning by helping all students develop their capacity to be independent learners who are able to set individual goals, monitor their own progress, determine their next steps and reflect on their thinking and learning.
Quality and standards
The curriculum has been tested against rigorous standards. The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is an independent arm’s-length body designed to provide all stakeholders with valid, reliable data about students’ achievements in reading, writing and mathematics. The EQAO administers tests annually for all Grade 3 and Grade 6 students in Ontario schools and reports these results. Over the past two decades, students’ EQAO results have seen steady gains.