subject: What is the International Baccalaureate Curriculum? [print this page] Many international schools offer the international baccalaureate to its students. What is this curriculum and the benefits to students? And how are teachers able to find work in such schools?
The IB is an international educational foundation which was founded in Geneva in 1968. The purpose of the curriculum was to serve an increasing expat population of students whose parents worked in diplomacy and international organisations which would be globally accepted by universities. The programme offers three levels to students aged 3-19; Primary Year Programme (PYP) ages 3-12, Middle Years Programme (MYP) ages 11-16 and IB Diploma (IBDP) ages 16-19.
International schools wishing to offer the IB curriculum, one or all three parts, must undergo a series of three stages followed by an inspection visit by the IB before receiving authorisation. Upon successful completion, schools are able to join the 3,042 schools across 139 countries already providing it.
International schools offering the IB Curriculum generally look for teachers with prior experience. Giving the growth of schools providing the IB and the demand and competition for teachers to take up teaching jobs abroad, IB schools are often flexible in their hiring criteria particularly in shortage subject areas. For example, a UK teacher with solid A-Level teaching experience should find the transition to IB Diploma relatively straightforward. There are of course differences between the two curricula and there is training offered by the IB as well as other training companies which serve these needs.
Many schools are seeing the benefit of offering the IB curriculum. Particularly in the international private sector where there is competition to attract students, the curriculum on offer is a major deciding factor. For teachers gaining teaching experience of the IB can only see this as a step forward not just in terms of becoming more marketable to international schools for future jobs but also as a vital professional development tool.
What is the International Baccalaureate Curriculum?
