In February, a new international school opened in Singapore, catering to cost-conscious parents who still want to provide their children with all of the benefits an international education has to offer.
At One World International School (OWIS), families benefit from a high-quality education at an investment of SG $17,000, and according to the school, "with no compromises when it comes to helping their child become the best version of themselves".
OWIS is part of the Global School Foundation (GSF), a Singaporean based, not-for-profit foundation. GSF was founded in the year 2002 to serve global communities with high quality and affordable education, with the mission to “cultivate and nurture young minds into future global leaders”.
The Educator Asia asked OWIS principal, Michelle Dickinson, how the school is able to keep fees down and still provide an exceptional education for its students.
“OWIS maintains its low-fee structure through economies of scale, shared services with parent organisation Global Schools Foundation -- which has won over 90 education awards in the past 14 years -- and vendor collaborations,” Dickinson explained.
“Its eco-friendly initiatives keep utilities-related costs low.”
OWIS is an accredited Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) school that offers an International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). The IGCSE program is based on the UK National Curriculum, yet, is adapted for the school’s international population.
The school’s motto is ‘One with the world’ – a phrase that rings true when considering the cultural diversity of students and staff, who hail from more than 40 countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and China.
An important focus at OWIS, said Dickinson, will be providing staff with a range of professional development opportunities to help them thrive and grow in their respective roles.
“We have an intensive personal development program for all staff based on their personal goals and our school’s requirements which include all our IB trainings,” she said.
When it comes to improving professional development, drawing from teaching and learning practices overseas can also be a valuable experience, as Dickinson is well aware. She has spent six years in China and the last three years in Ethiopia developing curriculum and assessment practices – experiences she believes will inform the culture of teaching and learning that she intends to build at OWIS.
“Having developed lots of different curriculum models, I have learned that the fundamentals of good teaching and learning are the same and based on conceptual understanding, skills and acquisition of relevant knowledge,” Dickinson said.
“Children develop in the same way based on their development milestones across the world.
“What I believe they need from a school is to feel respected and valued about who they are as an individual person; their interest, passion, personality and cultural heritage.”