The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations checked by examiners outside the country. The programme has gained recognition and respect from the world’s leading universities, including Stanford and Harvard. Students who earned the much-coveted IB diploma can be granted acceptance into Philippine premier universities such as UP and Ateneo de Manila without sitting for the admission tests. Some of the subjects taken in the IB can even be credited in the university.

In order to offer the IB Diploma Programme, a school must complete an authorization process to become an IB World School. There are only a few schools in the Philippines that are authorized to offer the IB Programme. Southville International School and Colleges is one of the first schools to offer IB. In fact, SISC has been an authorized IB World School since August 2005. Every five years since then, IB teams would visit SISC for re-evaluation prior renewal of accreditation to ensure that the standards and practices of the IB programmed are being maintained. And every accreditation visit, SISC IB-World School passes the standards of IB with flying colors.

This academic year, a team of experienced IB Diploma Programme educators conducted the evaluation visit on May 25-26, 2015. The team met with students, teachers, officers, and other members of the school community. They also observed classes and reviewed school documents and other evidence of student learning.

Following the visit, the school received a written report from IB Asia Pacific detailing the findings of the visiting team, commendations, and recommendations for further growth.

Among the highlights of the report were commendations notable of which were:

1. The school’s commitment to support the local community through the Poor Urban Child (PoUCh) Program;
2. The students’ engagement in global issues and different perspectives.

They also cited the website for the published articles that boost student engagement.

Overall, the IB noted that the school has shown satisfactory development in many areas and wished the school “continued success with the implementation of the Programme over the coming years.”