After meeting the goal of opening a High Performance School (COAR) in every region of the country, the Education Ministry is projected to overcome private institutions in number of students that benefit from the International Baccalaureate program and earn the diploma to be accepted at top universities worldwide.
"A total of 1,500 students will enroll in a full baccalaureate program this year, including fourth and fifth grade education, and that puts us at the same level as private schools," said David Caballero, coordinator at Basic Education for Outstanding and high Performance Students Directorate (Debedsar).
"Now we'll make sure 80% of students pass it. At present, Colegio Mayor's approval range is 86%. We will repeat this at all schools," he added.
Schools including the international baccalaureate program are internationally accredited after they go through a strict evaluation process, putting them at the same level as the best in the country and around the world.
"The International Baccalaureate program starts at a fourth-grade level and includes core courses like CAS [creativity, action and service], that enable students to get involved with the society, resulting in a project that proves sustainable over time and impacts the community," he explained.
Other core elements are the theory of knowledge, in which students reflect on the nature of knowledge and on how we know what we claim to know and; the extended essay, which is an independent, self-directed piece of research.
"CAS projects are being developed in Piura, Arequipa and Cusco, which is drawing attention of regions. Last year, 300 students graduated from the International Baccalaureate program and 86% of them earned the diploma. Every COAR last-year class will enroll in the program starting this year," Caballero announced.
Results confirming accreditation of the last eight COAR institutions will be released in February.
(END) DOP/ART/RMB/MVB
Published: 1/20/2017