For the first 10 years of operation, the Canadian International School in Singapore (CIS), in typical Canadian fashion, kept a low profile and was appropriately apologetic for what it was not. It was not American, nor was it British. It was not big, nor was its physical plant attractive. It was not pretentious, nor was it exclusive.
Only on a few special occasions each year did the Canadian School community celebrate what it did well: in United Nations Week we celebrated what all people share and the differences among us; in December we acknowledged and promoted the human conditions of caring, compassion and charity; twice each year we would celebrate our curriculum and our pedagogy and the changes it brings to learning; and in June we would celebrate individual successes – however measured – and bid farewell to our graduates leaving us for post-secondary institutions of their choice.
As we quietly went about our business, people began to take notice. Word spread through the local and expatriate commu-nities in Singapore about the quality of our teachers, the intelligence of our curriculum and the superiority of a pedagogy that accounts for individual learning needs and styles in an active classroom setting. Through this word of mouth, the school began to grow.
Student enrollment at CIS was quite steady through the economic downturn and into the late 1990s. In 1998, when I joined the staff, the student population was just over 650 students. Today, we have nearly 1,100 students. Why? Great teachers, good programs, small classes, great kids, improvements to the physical plant, program innovations and more effective marketing.
Today we operate two campuses in the Bukit Timah area of Singapore. Our Elementary Campus on Toh Tuck Road has been renovated to better meet the learning needs of students between the ages of 3 and 11 years. Our Secondary campus in prestigious Bukit Tinggi provides our junior and senior high students with a great place to learn. The high school campus features a Laptop Learning Program within a wireless local area network. We are currently designing a $30-million (SDG) purpose-built facility just down the road from our current Elementary campus to be completed in August 2005. This campus will have a capacity of 1,500 students and will support in every way the high quality learning opportunities provided to our students.
CIS has recently been accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) for the Diploma Program, and will begin offering IB Diploma courses and Middle Years Program (MYP) courses this coming August. In addition, we are in the application phase of the accreditation process with the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Membership in international organiza-tions like these provides our staff with the highest possible quality Professional Development and a wealth of contemporary educa-tional research. With the endorsement of the Education Ministry in Ontario, the IBO and the ECIS, our graduates can and do attend the universities of their choice, worldwide.
Recently, a group of very influential educators asked for our involvement in a project to redesign early childhood education in Singapore. We were flattered that from all the models available in Singapore, they chose ours. We established the Learning Society in Singapore with the mission of “improving the quality of life through enhanced educational opportunities for all.” We opened our first Learning Ladder Kindergarten and Childcare in May 2001.
This past January we celebrated the opening of our third Learning Ladder. “Schoolhouse by the Bay” is a joint venture partner-ship between our Learning Society and the People’s Association. In the “Schoolhouse” we are involved in the education of children, teacher pre-service, and parent education. The Schoolhouse Project has given us the opportunity to build bridges between the expatriate and local communities, and to make a difference in the lives of young Singaporeans.
What’s next? Like most businesses presently operating in Southeast Asia, we recognize the great opportunities in China. Currently we are working to establish schools in Shanghai and Hangzhou. With the support of the High Commission in Singapore and the Consulate in Shanghai, we hope to raise the Maple Leaf, and with it Canada’s profile, throughout Eastern China. Hopefully, we will have the opportunity to provide educational opportunities of the highest possible quality to your sons and daughters after you join us in this part of the world!
Ian H. Deakin is Head Principal and CEO, Canadian International School, Singapore. He may be contacted at: Tel. 65.467.1732, Fax 65.467.1729, E-mail admissions@cis.edu.sg, Web site www.cis.edu.sg.
