International Baccalaureate

Mission:

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the IB works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment. These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right. 

More detailed information and many resources are available on the IB website, www.ibo.org.

Main Activities:

The IB works in four areas:

• the development of curriculum
• the assessment of students
• the training and professional development of teachers
• the authorization and evaluation of schools.

Size:

The IB works with over 4,500 schools in over 140 countries to offer the four different IB programs.

Programs:

The IB offers four programs for students. 

• The Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students aged 3-12 started in 1997.
• The Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students aged 11-16 started in 1994.
• The Diploma Programme for students aged 16 to 19 started in 1968 with first examinations in 1970 and is now offered by over 2,700 IB World Schools. 
• The Career-related Programme (CP) was begun in 2012.

What makes the IB unique:

1. IB offers a continuum of education.
2. IB has a prestigious reputation for high-quality education, sustained for almost 50 years.
3. IB encourages international-mindedness in IB students. To do this, students must first develop an understanding of their own cultural and national identity.
4. IB encourages a positive attitude to learning by encouraging students to ask challenging questions, to critically reflect, to develop research skills and to learn how to learn and to participate in community service.