For students to learn and achieve
THE curriculum used in elc International School is the National Curriculum of England and Wales. Traditionally, the academic year begins around the end of August or early September and ends in July of the following calendar year. In one academic year, there are three terms that include Christmas, Easter and summer breaks, which give students and teachers a chance to rest.
There are two main aims of this curriculum. Firstly, it seeks to provide opportunities for pupils to learn and achieve. Secondly, it is aimed at promoting pupils’ moral, social and cultural development and preparing them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.
Essentially, this curriculum tries to cater to the individual needs of each student – whether they are talented or struggling to cope with the contents of a topic or a required skill. Students at elc are all developed to their fullest potential.
Choosing the right school
When choosing a school for children, parents’ decisions are frequently fuelled by what they have observed and experienced. In a Malaysian context for example, a British system has traditionally been the first choice of international curriculum, given Malaysia’s colonial history.
However, Sheela Raghu, the principal of elc’s Sungai Buloh campus, points out, “The truth is that the system matters very little as a gifted teacher can achieve phenomenal results with passion and knowledge. But this can never be achieved on a large scale without the support of the whole school community”.
When visiting a school, parents should pay close attention to its teachers. Teachers should be passionate and show enthusiasm, yet maintain a level of discipline and order. If parents are happy with the teachers and confident that they will impart the necessary values and knowledge, then they have likely found the right school for their child.
As with most international schools today, elc has all the necessary equipment and facilities for effective teaching and learning. However, it must be stressed that facilities do not make a school – teachers do.
“Making a decision to enrol in a school based on its facilities is simply unwise,” says Rajan Kaloo, director of services at elc.
Further studies
The National Curriculum of England and Wales for secondary level will provide students with an excellent foundation, regardless of where they plan to continue their studies. However, it will also give students an advantage should they wish to further their education or seek employment in the UK.
Therefore, when deciding on a secondary school curriculum, parents and students should consider what the next stage of the child’s education will be. A school that offers a good curriculum should also be considered in terms of its management and ethos, ensuring that it has the right moral compass.
Students nowadays should also be aware of the competitive world outside. They should make subject choices that will provide them with a broad platform for the future and try to achieve a balance of the arts and sciences in their studies.
www.elc.edu.my