The Overseas School of Colombo: The IB School in Sri Lanka

More than 4,000 schools so far have chosen to teach the International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, with their unique academic rigour and emphasis on students’ personal development appealing to many. 

The IB aims to do more than other curricula by developing inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who are motivated to succeed. The IB is different from other curricula because it encourages students to think critically and challenge what they are told, it is independent of governments and national systems and is therefore able to incorporate best practices from a range of international frameworks and curricula and encourages students to consider both their local and international environment.

Students of the IB help to build a better world through intercultural understanding and respect. An IB education aims to transform students and schools as they learn, through dynamic cycles of inquiry, action and reflection. Teachers enable and support students as they develop the approaches to learning they need, for both academic and personal success.

The Overseas School of Colombo is regarded as the most prestigious international school in Colombo. Founded in 1957, OSC remains Sri Lanka’s oldest internationally-accredited educational institution. It is the only school in Sri Lanka to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme from Pre-school to Grade 12. Students from 47 different nationalities are taught at OSC. OSC parents and teachers work together to create an environment where children not only learn but thrive. OSC develops the whole person as a responsible learner striving for personal excellence within a culturally diverse school.

OSC develops the whole person as a responsible learner, striving for personal excellence within a culturally diverse environment. 

OSC seeks to be a model of excellence in educating, nurturing and empowering its community of learners to achieve global success. 

OSC also runs a unique learning program called ‘Week Without Walls’ (WWW) which has several unique aspects that make it an exemplary program in experiential education. To start with, the learning experiences are rooted in the school’s mission statement and emphasise learning rather than simply visiting exotic places. 

All of the WWW groups have articulated learning goals which link to one or more aspects of the MYP and DP curriculums. Many international schools send students on trips outside their host nations. This is an admirable goal but one that can be expensive and not necessarily the most appropriate for deepening learning. OSC sees the WWW program as an opportunity to strengthen its links and understanding of its host nation, Sri Lanka. 

Each class has teachers and students who have Sinhala and Tamil language skills to help build bridges with local communities. OSC’s WWW program consciously tries to avoid large-scale package tourist spots. In contrast it seeks out smaller-scale, lesser-known locations where learning can be more authentic. The different experiences also provide opportunities for service learning and outdoor education - both of which have been key learning areas for OSC for many years. 

Every year, OSC competes in the South Asian Inter-Schools Association (SAISA) Sports Conference, which comprises swimming, basketball, soccer and track and field contests for both boys and girls. The sports teams of OSC are called the Geckos. The Geckos get the opportunity to travel to a different SAISA country (such as India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Oman) to compete. It also welcomes other countries when it’s Sri Lanka’s turn to host the tournament. OSC also takes part in sports events against other schools in Colombo.

The campus at OSC is a fully-modernised and air-conditioned campus set on five acres of greenery, a spacious property designed to create a natural setting for students living in a busy city.

As part of the OSC philosophy of developing the “whole person”, the school actively encourages students to explore their interest in the performing arts. OSC students have the best facilities with which to discover their talents. In 2008 the school opened a state-of-the-art performing arts centre, including a 450-seat auditorium designed to accommodate any performance by using multi-level seating and movable stages. The auditorium also boasts strand lighting and Dolby sound systems – the very best equipment to nurture its students’ acting, dancing, singing and speaking talents. Students are taught how to use all the apparatus and regularly run the systems during school performances.

The Technology Department at OSC works collaboratively with all faculty and staff to ensure school-wide consistency in the use of technology as an integrated part of the school’s program. OSC also promotes BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) with all students, faculty and staff.

At OSC the students learn in a 3D way which encourages them to experience the road to learning. To learn more about OSC, view the following link: http://www.osc.lk/gallery/our-corporate-video.html.