Share on Facebook Share on MySpace Share on Google

After two years of successful piloting and intensive monitoring, Educational Research Centre (ERC) has launched, at Hotel Le Royal Dbayeh, the International Arab Baccalaureate (IAB) to be implemented during the coming academic year in Grade 10, at 28 schools (including 11 Lebanese schools) located in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

The conference was attended by education experts and representatives from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education of Lebanon, the UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut, the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO, the US Embassy, the British Council in Beirut, and by principals and coordinators of secondary schools and educational institutions in the Arab World.

Mr. Habib Sayegh, CEO of ERC, has clarified that this diploma is a new high standard diploma for our students attending ERC accredited schools in the Arab World. IAB is grounded in the Profile Shaping Education (PSE) framework developed under the auspices of ERC. PSE calls for each student to develop a distinguished profile throughout secondary grades (10, 11, and 12) in an experiential approach. He added: “this profile is identified with complete respect of our Arab culture and different scientific and educational aspirations in various Arab countries, and with the aim of achieving the conditions of success in modern life and admission at the most important universities in the world.”

Professor Ibrahim Halloun, author of the Profile Shaping Education (PSE), said that: “the Student Profile focuses on cross-disciplinarity among various course materials, and maintains a balance between conceptions (content or knowledge), skills and dispositions (values, habits, attitudes) which are considered pivotal for meaningful learning of any subject and for the development of the big picture within and across disciplines.”

Professor Halloun has clarified that IAB is not just a diploma issued at the end of secondary education, but a comprehensive educational system that builds up the capacity of teachers in instruction and assessment so as to develop the desired profile for success in modern life, including higher education and the workplace. The system respects diversity among curricula and schools, and does not require a unified curriculum or program of study. However, it strives to bring harmony into diversity within the framework of PSE, so that students may develop the target profile. Subsequently, students can enroll in IAB and be granted the corresponding diploma in addition to any other diploma.

IAB builds on ERC’s long experience in educational research, curriculum development and educational measurement in many Arab countries. Key features of IAB include the following:

1. IAB relies on authentic assessment to promote, in specific ways, the ERC Student Profile. It concentrates on the way students gradually develop this profile throughout secondary grades, rather than requiring a single set of exit exams.
2. IAB covers the core educational fields: science, mathematics, social studies and languages.
3. An international Governing Board of renowned Arab and non-Arab educators and policymakers sets and oversees the implementation of the general policy of IAB.
4. All IAB matters are carried out in the spirit of full partnership with accredited schools.
5. Design and delivery of IAB assessments benefit from the latest advances in measurement research and technology, including an IAB Electronic Assessment Platform which incorporates a unique item bank, an information management system, OMR assessments, online assessment and on-screen marking of paper tools.
   

At first, IAB will be implemented during the coming academic year, 2010-2011, in a number of Pioneer schools accredited by ERC, and located in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, it will be implemented in more accredited schools in these and other Arab countries.

To ensure effective and efficient implementation of IAB, ERC is organizing intensive training sessions for principals, coordinators and teachers to master this new educational approach.

ERC is working to have IAB recognized by ministries of education and concerned accreditation agencies, and accepted for entry at major universities in the Arab World and elsewhere, especially in Australia, Europe and North America.

Educational Research Center (ERC)
ERC is dedicated to continuously improve the state of education in the Arab World. It conducts various types of educational research, produces field-tested learning materials at all grade levels, and assists governments in curriculum reform and development, and the design and deployment of national exams and professional development programs. To these ends, ERC’s team works closely with various stakeholders, and collaborates with many local and international partners.

ERC’s team consists of over 150 international and Arab experts in various academic and technical fields, equipped with the latest, state-of-the-art technology.

ERC is a Sayegh Company, affiliate of Librairie du Liban Publishers.
For further information, please visit : www.EducationalRC.org

Reported by T. Abi Mansour

Related News Yesterday Mleekh residents stage protest against opening of new quarry Fri, Sep 03 2010 Lebanese extravagance challenges virtues of Ramadan Thu, Sep 02 2010 Report: Syria Arrests Lebanese Sheikh Suspected of Spying for Israel Wed, Sep 01 2010 Mneimneh details 5-year plan to improve country's public schools Wed, Sep 01 2010 Bellemare: Indictment Not in September, Has to Be Based on Solid Evidence Tue, Aug 31 2010 Security Council Extends UNIFIL Mandate, Condemns Tensions, Urges Israel to Pull Out of Ghajar Wed, Aug 25 2010 Hizbullah, Ahbash Fight Street Battles, 3 Killed, Kidnapping Reported Mon, Aug 23 2010 Aid ship Mariam now looks to set sail from Greece Fri, Aug 20 2010 High temperatures may be the new norm in Lebanon Thu, Aug 19 2010 Bellemare 'Carefully Examining' Hizbullah's Info on Alleged Israeli Involvement in Hariri Murder Wed, Aug 18 2010 Cabinet to Discuss Plan to Equip Army as Opposition Seeks to Form Committee on False Witnesses Tue, Aug 17 2010 Lebanon struggles to retain Arabic in polyglot culture Mon, Aug 16 2010 Report: Osama al-Shahabi Chosen as Abdel Rahman Awadh's Successor Mon, Aug 16 2010 Eco-tourism in Lebanon finds increasing interest Sun, Aug 15 2010 Awadh's Killing 'Positive Step' Although it Buried Bombing and Murder Secrets Fri, Aug 13 2010 'Christ' TV Series Stirs Christian Row Thu, Aug 12 2010 Asarta: No War in UNIFIL Area of Operations in Next Few Months Tue, Aug 10 2010 Ramadan festivities provide symbol for co-existence Tue, Aug 10 2010 Congress Freezes $100 Million Aid to Lebanese Army Mon, Aug 09 2010 Karam to Stand Before Court Monday