Martin Doherty, Executive School Principal

Martin Doherty has over 20 years experience of managing schools in over 13 countries across five continents, including North America, Europe, Asia, the GCC/Middle East, and Africa. He helps schools broaden their student bodies, improve best practices, modernize the teaching and learning environment, and cultivate an overly “happy” school climate while also helping them obtain a global perspective. He is a former Senior Project Manager / Business Process Manager, for over 10 years with Fortune 500 companies (head offices: IBM, Bell Mobility, Sprint PCS, TELUS Mobility, Canada Life, Minacs) in Toronto, CANADA, and the USA.

 

I’ve had the honor of serving as a school director for 20 years in over 13 nations & 5 continents, including North America, Europe, Asia, the GCC/Middle East, and Africa. I assist schools in gaining a global perspective while expanding their student body, enhancing best practices, upgrading the teaching and learning environment, and fostering an excessively “positive” school climate.

I believe I have a unique viewpoint on multiculturalism and globalization since I am Canadian. I have launched new schools and managed improvement projects on all varieties of international curriculum schools. I specialize in new school start-ups and school improvement initiatives. The “most commercially popular” are often the British IGCSE and American Common Core. Additionally, several institutions “mix” their regional curriculum with an international one.

No matter what – parents in ALL countries struggle with the same thing when choosing an international school:

  1. The best curriculum for their children’s future.
  2. An international school that will actually deliver. (As I have discovered (esp. in the GCC / Middle East and Africa) Just because a school has the word “International” in their name or claim to be one, does not mean they actually are one.)

Choosing an education system for overseas students can be a daunting task. It can be hard to figure out which curriculum will give you the best chances for success because there are so many choices.

Canada’s education system, particularly the Ministry of Education (Ontario), is one of the most sought-after. This article will discuss the advantages of studying under the Ministry of Education (Ontario) curriculum for international students and the reasons why it is preferable to other international curricula, such as the US Curriculum, the National Curriculum of England, the Cambridge IGCSE, and the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum.

Benefits of Studying Under the Canadian Curriculum of the Ministry of Education (Ontario)

Studying Under the Canadian Curriculum of the Ministry of Education (Ontario) has numerous benefits for international students.

The Canadian Ministry of Education (Ontario) is well-known for its emphasis on trans-formative competency development to engage students with a variety of learning styles. Students can learn at their own pace and in a manner that best meets their needs with this method, which results in a more individualized and efficient learning experience. This method guarantees that each student is supported and challenged to their full potential.

Differentiated instruction has been criticized in contrast to other international curricula like the US Curriculum, National Curriculum of England, Cambridge IGCSE, and International Baccalaureate (IB) curricula. A one-size-fits-all approach that does not satisfy the requirements of all students may result from this.

In addition, the Canadian curriculum emphasizes global citizenship and provides an individualized learning path. Innovation and application in the real world are also a part of it. It encourages students to apply what they’ve learned in real-world situations, solve problems, and think critically. Youth are better prepared for the workplace of the future and for an international perspective with this strategy; which will be driven by technology.

Canada has become Education Superpower

The Ministry of Education (Ontario) curriculum’s emphasis on global citizenship education is yet another advantage. The curriculum aims to prepare young people for the workplace of the future and an international perspective. It encourages students to expand their horizons and cultivate an appreciation for diverse cultures and points of view.

Compared to the United States and the United Kingdom, education in Canada: some important facts:

  1. The fall of American education: The Best Countries in 2020 study: The United States ranked 24th in science and 38th in math, according to a 2018 Business Insider report. Given that education is an essential component of any society, this trend is troubling. These most recent rankings suggest that the United States may no longer be considered one of the top education-producing nations. A report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) demonstrates this, stating that the United States of America has fallen behind many other developed nations in education.
  2. The UK’s Poor School System: The UK is far from the top of the most recent PISA ratings, which are conducted by the OECD and are based on tests taken by 15-year-olds around the world. Since joining the tests in 2000, the United Kingdom’s math score is the lowest it has ever been; is ranked 15th in science and 22nd in reading. Since the United Kingdom has long been regarded as one of the best countries in terms of education, this is a worrying trend.
  3. Canada is #1 in the English-speaking world in math, reading, and science & the top 10 education systems in English-speaking countries for the last 10 years. In 2018, Canada was ranked #1 in the English-speaking world in math, reading, and science, a distinction it also held in 2012 and 2015: far ahead of the UK and the USA in terms of education. When compared to the United States and the United Kingdom, which have both struggled to maintain comparable levels of academic excellence, this is a significant accomplishment. Many of Canada’s provinces have higher academic rankings than Finland, Singapore, and Japan. The PISA report indicates that Canada consistently ranks among the nations with the highest results in science, reading, and math. Even traditional educational powerhouses like Finland, Singapore, and Japan have been surpassed by several Canadian provinces, including British Columbia and Alberta.

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (O.S.S.D.) is an International University Foundation Program

Universities all over the world accept the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (O.S.S.D.) as meeting the academic requirements for undergraduate studies. It is recognized as a world-leading International University Foundation Preparation Program. The purpose of the program is to specifically prepare students for university-level coursework abroad.

Overseas who have previously obtained a diploma from a non-Canadian high school, such as a US High School Diploma, Cambridge IGCSE Diploma, or their local curriculum Diploma, should enroll in the Ministry of Education (Ontario), Canada grade 12 program and complete it in order to receive their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. This will make it more likely that you will be accepted into the university and program they want.

International diplomas like the US High School Diploma and the Cambridge IGCSE are well-known and well-respected. However, these diplomas are more focused on high school students who want to go to college in their own country than they are on students who want to study abroad. The goal of these diplomas is to give students a broad education that is tailored to the specific needs and requirements of the nation from which they come. These diplomas may not fully prepare students for the rigor and demands of university-level coursework in a foreign country, but they may be accepted as evidence of academic ability by some international universities.

Choose an International Canadian School that Registers the Student Directly as an Ontario Student

Ministry of Education Student Enrolling in a school that registers the student directly as an Ontario Ministry of Education student ensures that overseas students receive an education that is comparable to that which is provided to students in Ontario, Canada.

  1. First and foremost, this indicates that they are learning the same curriculum as their Canadian peers, employing the same teaching strategies, and having access to the same resources and assessments. This is crucial to ensuring that they are well-prepared for Canadian post-secondary education. It also indicates that the Ontario Ministry of Education is the source of all student reports.
  2. In addition, choosing an international Canadian school that allows the student to obtain direct access to the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Learning Management System (LMS) can ease the transition to Canadian post-secondary education. This is because Canadian universities are better equipped to evaluate the qualifications of LMS students because they are familiar with the curriculum and teaching methods.
  3. Third, being registered as a student with the Ontario Ministry of Education (Canada) can also grant Canadian students access to scholarships. Students who excel academically or in a particular field may be eligible to receive one of these scholarships. Students from other countries may have easier access to higher education as a result of this, lowering the financial burden of post-secondary education.
  4. Fourth, students who are registered with the Ontario Ministry of Education (Canada) are more likely to be accepted by universities in Canada and around the world. Students with credentials from a Canadian educational system are highly sought after due to the country’s well-respected and internationally renowned system. Aside, Canada is currently the number one country of destination of choice for international students. Competition is extremely high.

In Conclusion

The Ministry of Education (Ontario) has many advantages for international students seeking a high-quality education.

Students can learn at their own pace and in a way that best suits their needs thanks to the curriculum’s encouragement of differentiated instruction. Additionally, to educate students on an international viewpoint and the future workplace, the curriculum emphasizes innovation, real-world application, and global citizenship education. The recent drop in school rankings in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom further emphasizes the benefits of the Canadian curriculum. If they choose a Ministry, international students may be confident that they will obtain a top-notch education that will equip them for success in their future employment.

Reference-

  1. Re: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-40708421
  1. re: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/15/u-s-students-internationally-math-science/
  1. (re: https://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/pisa-2018-results.htm )
  1. re:  https://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/pisa-2018-results-volume-v-what-students-know-and-can-do-9789264312127-en.html
  2. re: https://gpseducation.oecd.org/CountryProfile?primaryCountry=CAN&treshold=10&topic=PI

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