Ontario International Canadian School (OICS), the only Canadian curriculum school in Dubai, has been recognized for its holistic learning environment, in recent KHDA inspections. Annual inspections have seen improvement in over 44 different categories, as the school strives to implement feedback received each academic year.
OICS’s Principal, Ron Hodkinson leads the managerial and teaching staff, found by the KHDA to maintain a good level of leadership, staffing, facilities and deployment of resources within the school. “Our students’ wellbeing and education prospects remain at the forefront of all endeavors undertaken at Ontario International Canadian School”, shares Hodkinson. He goes on to add, “The team at OICS and myself, place immense priority on the protection, care, guidance and support of our students, as well as upon building their commitment to health and safety, as attested by the KHDA”.
The support provided is evident as teachers ensure classes consist of small groups, where students are placed with those who share their learning style, pace and level of understanding. The positive effect of this is furthered into learning out of school as no generic homework is given out, enabling students to focus on personal and social development, another positive element noted by the KHDA. Additionally, the school promotes inclusive policies at all levels, to be able to better cater to its students of determination.
OICS was also recognized for its improvement in teaching for effective learning. The unique, to the city curriculum has PISA ranking it amongst the top five, and the OECD placing it amongst the top seven globally. Furthermore, it has been identified as one of the top ten curriculums with regards to its mathematics courses. Subject deliverance with the school was found by the KHDA, to be bettered in the areas of English and the Sciences.
The improvement in the field of English is supported by the fact that it is the first school in the region to implement the innovative Lexia Program, aimed at taking personalized learning to the next level. In just three months, it has enabled 210 students at all levels of capabilities to accurately identify and improve areas of deficiency, whilst building on strengths.
Yet another element of improvement highlighted in the annual KHDA report was the very good partnership maintained by school staff with the parents and the wider community, which in turn strengthened the social responsibility and awareness of world cultures amongst students.
This partnership can be seen through the highly beneficial Arabic conversation intervention program – aimed at students who struggle with the language. “Pupils are assisted by trained parent volunteers in conversational Arabic, as needed, to be able to best perform in their classes, part of the wider vision of boosting engagement with the community”, shares Hodkinson.
Overall the school will continue to strive for progress, as the field of education adapts external influences, such as those of technology, sustainability and local legislation. Each past year has seen the school actively implement measures to boost its educational offering, as per inspection feedback, and plans to do so this year are already underway, ultimately providing to students the best possible learning environment, in which to flourish.
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