The International Baccalaureate: “La Cultura de Excelencia”
“The culture of excellence” – Presidente Rafael Correa of Ecuador, referring to the International Baccalaureate…
Everyone has heard of this education program, the International Baccalaureate, but no one is really sure what it is exactly. Some people, like President Correa and myself, say it’s the best education system in the world. We are both convinced of it, President Correa and myself.
I do not exaggerate when I say that if the International Baccalaureate were a country, it would lead the rest of the world…by a tremendous distance. Yet I do not wish to have you trust in my words, or the words of President Correa. We are only human, so I ask you to find out more about the International Baccalaureate, for yourself…
Oh, I know that you may have heard that the International Baccalaureate is a program for the elite. Nothing could be further from the truth. I assure you, you are mistaken. Again, don’t take my word for it. For example, no one would consider the state school system in Ecuador to be an elite student population:
“Ecuador has one of the largest populations of Diploma Program participants in Latin America with 708 DP candidates in 2011. There are currently 51 IB-authorized schools in the country, including 50 offering the Diploma (DP) program.
In addition, there are over 60 schools in the process of seeking authorization as IB schools.
The Government of Ecuador has shown an exceptionally high level of support for IB education. The Ministry of Education has indicated that they will support the development of IB schools and programs in all of the country’s 24 provinces.” (Source: NCREST)
Ministerio de Educación de Ecuador: Bachillerato Internacional
Read about how the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is transforming education in Ecuador’s state (public) school system:
Ecuador’s schools, teachers, and students benefit from in-country expansion of the IB Diploma Programme
To read the full research report, visithttp://www.ibo.org/research/policy/programmevalidation/diploma/
“An international education must go well beyond the provision of information and is involved in the development of attitudes and values which transcend barriers of race, class, religion, gender or politics.” -International Baccalaureate Organization Subject Guide (1996).
It is my belief that any education that does not unite the nations of the world in a common endeavour is a relic of the past century. A common sense of sharing the responsibility, equally, for the welfare of the planet, globally, is needed more than ever today.
Finally, I can only say one thing: The IB program is a positive way forward for any education system in crisis, any education system that desires quality, any education system that aspires to excellence, any education system that wishes to educate its citizens in the image of the twenty-first century, rather than the past century…
About the IB
Founded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate (IB) is a not-for profit foundation, which offers four high quality and challenging educational programmes for a worldwide community of schools.
For 45 years, IB programmes have gained a reputation for rigour and high academic standards, for preparing students for life in a globalized 21st century, and for helping to develop citizens who will create a better, more peaceful world.
Currently, more than 1 million IB students attend nearly 3,500 schools in 144 countries.
(Source: www.ibo.org )
(Source: www.ibo.org )
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