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Types of
Curricula

over their education with a semester-based system. from and contribute to the learning of others and
Just like in university, students take on subjects that engage in social networking with diverse others.
The Ontario are different each semester and do so with proper • Creativity and Imagination: Economic and social
guidance and support from their family and teachers.
entrepreneurial skills, willingness to consider and
pursue novel ideas, and leadership for action.
Curriculum With the end goal of achieving the Ontario Secondary By nurturing students to become learners on a deeper
School Diploma (OSSD), students can choose from
a diverse range of subjects where they focus on level and developing such core competencies, the
four credit subjects each semester. To graduate curriculum seeks to transform the learners of today
and receive the OSSD, students must successfully into leaders of tomorrow.
The Principal complete 30 credits, pass the Ontario Secondary Assessment and Evaluation
School Literacy Test, and earn a minimum of 40
of Sunway hours of community service. Instead of having one major assessment at
International Grades 9 and 10 build a strong academic foundation and the end of the year, assessment is an ongoing
process that aims to improve student learning.
School (SIS), provide students with exposure to their subject options Teachers obtain assessment information through
Heath Kondro, shares the moving forward. Grades 11 and 12 are more specialised a wide array of assessment practices which
include a variety of means such as formal and
and prepare students for university education with in-
unique features of this depth coverage of concepts in all disciplines. Here, the informal observations, discussions, conversations,
student-centred curriculum. Upon completing High School, students then emphasis is on projects, assignments, field trips, and questioning, conferences, homework, group work/
collaboration, demonstrations, projects, peer and
progress to tertiary education, omitting the need
independent and group work.
for a pre-university course, unlike other education self-assessments, self-reflections, tests, and more. In
systems such as the British and Malaysian education For more than 30 years, the Canadian programme Ontario High School, final grades reflect a 70-30 split:
n Malaysia, the only school offering the Canadian systems. at Sunway International School and College has 70% of the grade is determined by work completed
(Ontario) curriculum are Sunway International produced more than 11,000 OSSD graduates who throughout the course and 30% by final evaluations.
ISchools (SIS) in Sunway City, Kuala Lumpur and Kindergarten have been accepted into over 230 universities all The way assessment and evaluation is structured
Sunway Iskandar, Johor. To date, the reception has Providing children with a foundation to start Grade 1, around the world including University of Toronto, places responsibility not only on teachers but also
been excellent and the schools have been seeing the two-year Ontario Kindergarten programme is an Imperial College London, Australian National on students; there is no final exam to cram for, but
continuous, steady growth, even with the pandemic. exciting, research-based, and progressive curriculum University to name a few. instead students are motivated to work hard and
for both children and parents. In this engaging engage every day.
The Canadian education system has consistently inquiry and play-based learning programme, children Core Values
outranked other English-speaking countries in the become curious-learners, problem-solvers and What truly makes the Ontario Curriculum unique is The three main approaches to assessments in the
Programme for International Student Assessment collaborators, giving them a strong start in school how it prepares students for jobs that do not exist Canadian (Ontario) system are:
(PISA) conducted by the Organisation for Economic and life. today by teaching skills and 21st century concepts “Assessment FOR learning” – This happens daily in
Co-operation and Development (OECD). Every three in addition to content. The learning journey that class. Teachers provide students with descriptive
years, the study measures 15- and 16-year-old Elementary School (Grades 1 to 8) students undertake allows them to take what they feedback and coaching for improvement which
students from 72 countries in science, mathematics During this period, the focus is on developing a learn in one situation and apply it to other situations. provides the basis for what students need to do next.
and reading. Looking at past PISA results, Canada strong foundation for students in literacy, numeracy
has been among the top countries as far back and learning skills. This is done through the four core While there is no single best framework, the “Assessment AS learning” – Students develop their
as 2003 and in more recent years, the Canadian subjects at the Elementary level – Math, English, the curriculum does focus on developing learning skills capacity to be independent learners, learn about
education system ranked 2nd overall in 2018. Clearly, Arts, and Social Studies. Students are also exposed and work habits by fostering the development of the themselves and become aware of how they learn, i.e.
Canada’s public education system is consistently one to the richness of the rotary subjects including six Cs: they become metacognitive. This is where students
of the best in the world. In fact, a study produced by Healthy Active Living, Second Languages, and are challenged to examine their achievement and
the Economist Intelligence Unit in 2017, “Worldwide Science & Technology. • Character Education: Honesty, self-regulation and how they can improve.
Educating for the Future Index”, ranked Canada 2nd responsibility, perseverance, empathy for others,
in the world in terms of preparing students for the In Grades 1 to 6, the programme focuses on building self-confidence, personal health and well-being, “Assessment OF learning” – This is any formal
future. Even with SIS being a private international a base that will help to identify each student’s career and life skills. assessment during the course which contributes to
school outside of Canada, families can rest assured potential. Students also discover more about • Citizenship: Global knowledge, sensitivity to and the final mark on a student’s report card.
that a high standard is consistently maintained. Not themselves and begin to establish their self-identity respect for other cultures, active involvement in
only is the school regulated by the Malaysian Ministry as learners. In Grades 7 and 8, the programme addressing issues of human and environmental Overall, students take ownership of their learning
of Education but the school (Sunway City) is also focuses on preparing students for a smooth sustainability. journey and develop into critical thinkers, problem-
inspected annually by the Ministry of Education Ontario. transition from Elementary to High School. • Communication: Effective communication orally, in solvers, lifelong learners, global citizens, and
writing and with a variety of digital tools, listening skills. confident leaders of tomorrow.
Overall Structure High School (Grades 9 to 12) • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: In the design
The curriculum begins with Kindergarten, eight The curriculum embodies the term personalised and management of projects and decision-making. For more information,
years of Elementary and four years of High School. learning. In these four years, students have control • Collaboration: Ability to work in teams, to learn visit www.sis.sunway.edu.my

80 www.EducationDestinationMalaysia.com EDUCATION DESTINATION MALAYSIA: Guide to International & Private Schools 81