School of the Nations

The School of the Nations evolved to meet a need that was apparent in the Macau community. Envisioned and initiated by members of the Macau community, it is now firmly established in Macau. It serves the needs of the local and expatriate communities in Macau, and welcomes into its fold people from over 30 different nationalities.

We seek to provide the highest quality education that advances the intellect, character and physical development of all our students, in a safe, harmonious, stimulating, nurturing and joyful environment. We constantly question, assess and evaluate every aspect of the education we provide. As a result we actively develop new innovative curricula, which we then offer to others in this region of Asia. The programme offered includes an International General Certificate of Secondary Education (I.G.C.S.E) administered by the Cambridge University (London) completed by Form 4, and culminates in the International Baccalaureate Diploma, a truly internationally recognised and accepted Certificate.

To inspire students of Macau and this region to strive for and achieve excellence in their academic, personal and character development, so that they vigorously participate in the welfare of their community and the world society, has been, is and will continue to be our vision. We invite you to become members of our family, the School of the Nations.

As an integral component of the educational programs of the Badi Foundation, the School of the Nations is dedicated to nurturing the physical, intellectual and spiritual development of its students, and developing their capabilities to promote the well-being of their families and communities. The context for our work is the recognition that humankind is progressing towards a global civilization that is just, prosperous, and peaceful and united. The school seeks to contribute to this process in the context of the Macau Special Administrative Region through its educational programs and engagement with the broader community.

The educational work of the School of the Nations seeks to integrate material and spiritual dimensions. One way to think of this is that the material dimension of our work is like a lamp glass, and the spiritual dimension is the light that illumines the lamp. The graceful combination of these elements enables the world to benefit from the lamp’s light.

The school, therefore, has highly trained teachers in all subjects recruited from all over the world; it maintains a safe, disciplined and friendly environment for learning; it promotes high academic standards, including offering top-level international examinations; and it prepares young people for attendance at top universities all over the world.

In pursuing excellence, whether it is in studies, the arts, sports or service, young people discover fulfilment, confidence and joyfully develop useful skills. We see music as a ladder by which humanity can ascend and by whose power our spirits are uplifted. Sports and physical activity are incorporated as an integral part of school life, since they are an essential arena for developing qualities such as participation, cooperation and perseverance as well as contributing to physical well-being. In general, pursuing excellence helps young people to identify their talents, choose and focus on a career—something encouraged by School of the Nations and supported by dedicated staff. The development of a useful skill is key to enabling young people to become independent and useful members of the community, and as students pursue careers in a wide range of fields, they are equipped to uphold high standards and conduct themselves with integrity.

In terms of some of the other methods we employ, three examples that serve to demonstrate the application of the ideas expressed above are cooperative discipline, participation and service:

Cooperative discipline: The school strives to implement cooperative discipline, an approach based on recognition of each student’s desire to connect with others, to contribute to his or her community and to feel capable. This approach avoids the pitfalls of both an excessively relaxed attitude to discipline that can border on neglect, and on the other hand of an overly regimented approach that quells the spirit and creativity of the child. It builds on mutual responsibility and enhances a sense of belonging.

Participation: Active participation is encouraged and invited from all children at the school since participation in society and the school are intimately linked. Participation includes, for example, involvement in sports teams, musical productions and the school council but it also extends into the classroom where class sizes, study content and teachers' skills in using participatory and cooperative methods encourage children to reflect and express their understandings and take an active role in their own learning.

Service: The School of the Nations seeks to provide opportunities for students to apply and contribute what they are learning through service to the surrounding community. As students grow in age and capacity, this service has included activities ranging from being of assistance to their families, to visiting and cheering the hearts of the sick and elderly, to teaching classes and serving as mentors for younger students, within and outside of the school. As experience is gained and capacity is developed, the nature of such service can become increasingly complex and profound.