TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA QATAR Academy welcomed parents to its International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme information evening recently.

The meeting was part of steps to assist Grade 10 students getting ready to embark on a two-year course of work under the international curriculum.

Senior School Assistant Principal and IB Diploma Coordinator Sarah McGinley thanked the parents for their commitment to help their children make the right choices with the subjects they would take in the programme.

She said, “Qatar Academy continues to share the commitment to your children’s education as we celebrate our 15th anniversary. This is even more special with the news that two of our graduates last year, Mohammed al Issa and Maha al Ansari, were among the 18 secondary students recognised during the Education Excellence Day of the Supreme Education Council.” Explaining the philosophy of the International Baccalaureate Organisation, McGinley said, “The programme aims to provide students with a balanced education, facilitate geographical and cultural mobility and promote international understanding through a shared academic experience.” She also explained the rigours of the Diploma Programme, what each subject would cover, the expected learning outcomes and how the students would be assessed. Her presentations focused on how to make students know their strengths and choose the subject areas that would best help them prepare for university studies.

She said a key component of the preparation for entry into universities is the ‘Extended Essay’ – a 4000- word original research work that every student in the Diploma Programme must complete.

“This is part of what sets the curriculum apart from other programmes. We are not driven merely by examinations, although they do play a part in our programme, rather we aim to equip our graduates with skills to enable them to be life-long learners and both academically and socially successful. Our ultimate goal is to produce caring and confident young people who will ultimately improve the world in which they live. We recognise that the first step in this direction is to help them as best as we can to enrol and prosper at the college or university of their choice.”