IB General Director Siva Kumari Visited Our Beykoz Campus

IB General Director Siva Kumari Visited Our Beykoz Campus

International Baccalaureate (IB) General Director Siva Kumari visited our school.

 During her visit, it was discussed that IB education focuses on raising the students as globally minded individuals who will know the world without being estranged to their own culture and that this system is a journey from the local to the universal at all phases of education; from architecture to language.

During her visit, Kumari; who was in Turkey due to the 50th anniversary of IB system, was accompanied by Esra Albayrak; Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of NUN Education and Culture Foundation, Board Members Tamer Yılmaz, Fatih Nida Üye, Gökçe Kalyoncu and NUN Schools Academic Director Nur İpek. During the meeting, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of NUN Education and Culture Foundation Esra Albayrak drew attention to the importance of making the IB education system accessible to the disadvantageous parts of the society. Kumari, who drew attention to the fact that she has been impressed by the architecture of school, said: “NUN Schools have a plain but soothing structure. It is quite important that the countries integrate their own cultural values to education. To be in communication with the world; by being aware of its own culture, takes part on the foundation of IB education. Esra Albayrak stated that Seljukian components have been given place in the architecture of NUN Schools.

 Albayrak stated that; particular importance is attached to transfer of culture to next generations in NUN Schools, and the fact that; for instance in the examination of literary works in literature courses, sociological, historical and geographical backgrounds are also handled and other courses are taught by taking their integration with several disciplines into consideration.

Kumari, indicating that IB education system has emerged due to the need of a common curriculum for international schools, said, “Today, it became a system which is desired to be implemented in public schools as well.” During the meeting with Kumari, it was emphasized that IB education programs are compelling; it was stated that this difficulty makes a positive impact on the academic development of students. Kumari said: “The fact that IB courses are taught in the mother tongues of students helps students to catch the cognitive understanding better and to make questioning more comfortably. NUN Schools have chosen Turkish as the medium of instruction, and they have also paid the required attention to foreign language education.” Kumari was reminded of the importance of the fact that Turkey has schools in different geographical regions of the world and it is important to design Turkish as the medium of instruction as well while preparing IB programs.

During the meeting, it was expressed that TITC curriculum which is one of the IB courses special to Turkey has a rich content containing sociology, history and geography; beyond a standard level course. It was emphasized that this course should take place within the high-level courses group. Kumari, stating that studies are being carried out in order to enrich MYP program; stated that very good projects are being received from students. Upon it is reminded that all students in NUN Schools have been incorporated into the IB system; Kumari said: “One of the main principles of IB system is holism. It is so glad that this has been achieved at NUN Schools. The interest towards IB is gradually increasing in Turkey. This is a very pleasing progress. We are working on the extending the IB system to public schools as well. I believe that this can be ensured through the joint works to be carried out with the Ministry.”

Kumari, sharing with the executives of foundation that she has accepted with sorrow that 50 Muslim people were killed during Friday prayer in New Zealand, said, “Educators should handle this issue studiously”. NUN Education and Culture Foundation Board Member Fatih Nida Üye also stated that, the comparative, questioning and cognitive ways of thinking that are struggled to be given to students in NUN Schools, are effective protective shields against radical tendencies, which are threatening the humanity.

After the warm conversation made with the executives of NUN Education and Culture Foundation; Kumari, walked around the Beykoz Campus of our school together with middle school and high school students and also attended to some courses. After making a short interview with our students, she left the school in order to attend the 50th anniversary celebration program of IBO.