The roots of British education in Malaysia can be traced back to 1946 when Alice Farfield-Smith opened a school on Jalan Eaton in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
The establishment introduced Malaysians to the Alice Smith International School, the first British international school in Malaya, followed by Garden International School in 1951.
Today, more British-curriculum schools have been established to ensure children receive top-notch education that gives them the ability to master a variety of skills.
They flourish in an environment filled with internationally minded peers. This is predicated on the stringent accreditation processes these schools go through.
International organisations such as the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (Fobisia) and the Council of British International Schools (Cobis) have played a role in accrediting British international schools in Malaysia and advising them on areas concerning safety and safeguarding, teacher development and more.
International boarding schools such as Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar are members of the Boarding Schools Association, which advises on safety and provides training to teachers and boarding staff.
Nevertheless, not every British international school is a member of Fobisia or Cobis as the schools cater to students and teachers with different needs. These schools are a part of education groups, partnerships and boarding associations, and they may have sister schools in the UK.
These schools also go through the quality-assurance system introduced by Malaysia’s Ministry of Education, known as the Standard Quality for Private Education Institution (SKIPS).
Building blocks of British education
Students in British international schools sit for the Cambridge IGCSE from 14 to 16 years old, before continuing their education in Sixth Form (A-Levels) at the pre-university level. Some schools offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) as an alternative to A-Levels.
The Cambridge IGCSE is structured like a building block – students learn the foundations of the subjects before moving on to the next stage. Their learning is segregated into key stages that will be assessed at the end of each stage.
The initial stage is known as the Early Years. Students learn basic literacy and numeracy skills, and are able to express themselves inquisitively.
They then proceed to primary school, where they will begin with Key Stages 1 and 2. Children start their first key stage, also known as Year 1, at five years old, while the next stage begins at seven years old.
The secondary school comprises Key Stage 3 (ages 11 to 14) and Key Stage 4 (ages 14 to 16). In Key Stage 4, students prepare themselves for the IGCSE examination, which commences in May and October every year, before progressing to Key Stage 5, the pre-university level.
IGCSE is widely accepted by institutions worldwide, and it helps determine the student’s pathway before entering pre-university courses.
The core papers students sit for are typically first and second languages, mathematics and science subjects. IGCSE also offers vocational routes to students who require them, such as accounting, business studies, design and technology, information and communication, and more.
Students in Key Stage 5 are typically assessed through A-Levels, but some British curriculum international schools offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, which is another sought-after pre-university assessment.
A-Levels and IBDP are recognised globally, with thousands of students sitting for the examinations worldwide, and many top universities globally accept these for student admissions.
The UK has been the preferred top destination for students of international schools to pursue their tertiary education. British international school students are honed to become great thinkers, equipped with skills such as critical thinking, communication and time management that will serve them well in life.
With these skills, many students who were in British curriculum schools have excelled in Oxbridge, Ivy League colleges and other top universities in the world.
The popularity and efficiency of the curriculum have made it the preferred education system for Malaysians and the expatriate community in the country.
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