Edexcel launches primary, secondary curricula and international diploma

Edexcel, the international qualification which has a student body of 1.1 million spread across 85 countries and over 50,00 entrants sitting examinations across 200 schools and Edexcel HND Centres in Sri Lanka, added more facets to its already extensive scope of qualifications and curricula.

Launching the international diploma and introducing the primary and lower secondary curricula to the syllabi accessible to students as preparation for the expansive higher education options available, the Edexcel’s Sri Lanka Country Office aligns Sri Lanka with the new trends and modes being introduced worldwide by Edexcel.

As Territory Manager for Edexcel in India Subcontinent Premila Paulraj explained: “Edexcel is all about equipping students with the apt foundation to face the challenges in the workplace. We already have our IGCSE and GCE Ordinary and Advanced Levels well in place for over 35 years, but with the introduction of the Primary and Lower Secondary curricula, we are ensuring that these young pupils gain that foundation in their early education years.”

She also briefly touched on the Edexcel International Diploma, a composite qualification that helps students gain a competitive advantage in studying for A/levels, the BTEC Extended National Diploma or even in applying for university.

Elucidating further, the Head of Stakeholder Relations of Edexcel, David Davies stated that the International Diploma, which is fully accredited by Ofqual, (UK’s educational standards and regulations authority) is recognised by universities and employers across the globe, setting students apart for success in this very competitive 21st century.

“It is equivalent to four A Levels and caters to students who have different aspirations and styles of learning, honed through a unique package of well recognised and respected qualifications. The idea is to develop holistic global citizens equipped with a rigorous knowledge base, which forms the foundation for building further skills specific to their individual areas of interest. There is a definite need for the current day student to differentiate themselves from their peers, whether it’s in university or when applying for employment. We are in a global marketplace and in most cases, students are competing for limited places eyed by large numbers of applicants. Employers therefore, are looking for individuals who demonstrate employability skills as well as economic, cultural and social values.”

The international diploma is constructed on a triad of knowledge, skills and behaviour. “A variety in choice of subjects is available in terms of developing knowledge levels in their chosen career path, while we hone skills such as communication, research, independent learning, problem solving, project management, presentation and critical thinking. Behavioural skills are introduced through economic awareness, cultural sensitivity, career mindedness and self motivation.”

The Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF) being introduced by Edexcel aims to provide more flexible routes to gaining full qualifications and enables qualifications and progression to be achieved in small steps. Learners are thus able to accumulate and transfer credits enabling a ‘pick and mix’ within a framework of Rules of Combination (RoC). The objective is to ensure that students are empowered with a wider range of achievements that are recognised within a more inclusive qualifications framework and establishing a simpler qualifications system that is more responsive to employer and individual needs.

Davies also explained the rudiments of the primary and lower secondary curricula being introduced by Edexcel to the audience, which had among them the Deputy Director Paul Hilder and other officials from the British Council, Edexcel’s Regional Director for the Indian Sub-Continent Preeti D’Mello, principals, teachers and renowned academia.

“Our IGCSE and GCE programmes have previously been aligned to pupils of 14 plus, but having talked to schools, we realised the real need for an international curriculum being introduced to younger pupils that will prepare them from secondary level. At primary level, we have brought together a framework of three subjects, English, mathematics and Science, which permeates throughout to the lower secondary level, to give students from the ages of 7 to 11 a head start in an easy to implement framework, instituting a solid foundation for lifelong learning.

“These are undoubtedly international benchmarks of achievement, as with the tests being externally marked, the certifications enables an ease in transition to the next step of learning, in a very engaging and creatively embedded knowledge framework. It forms a natural follow on from step to step, leading to improved results and excellent preparation for IGCSE or GCE A Levels or its equivalent.”

Davies added that resultant to these new curricula, students gain a seamless and cohesive learning experience, preparing them for the higher education milieu from early years.

Regional Development Manager Sri Lanka and the Maldives Suriya Bibile in his concluding remarks mentioned that Edexcel has a pragmatic ‘work-ready’ qualification, which has proven its worth due to over 100 professional bodies and institutions around the world granting exemptions on their professional examinations or presenting Edexcel HND qualifiers with professional membership in those bodies.

“With this qualification, a student can gain entrance into the final year of a university degree in the UK or several other countries which is a considerable cost advantage to a Sri Lankan student,” he concluded.