21 Jun 2016
After a five-year gap, Ecole Francaise in Kano, Nigeria, has reintroduced Cambridge Primary in order to maintain – and improve – the school’s international status. Headmistress Mme Jihanne Dib has successfully realigned the school curriculum to the Cambridge Primary programme.
Staff admit they were at first doubtful whether their students could cope with the expanded breadth and range, especially in science courses. As Mr Vitalis, a teacher of English as a Second Language, comments: ‘When I first saw the programme, I wondered if my students would be able to comprehend it,’ but enhancements introduced since the school last offered Cambridge Primary made all the difference. He says: 'Cambridge now provides comprehensive study materials for students, and also supports teachers with information on teaching methods, techniques and strategies.'
Mme Dib also worked hard to inform parents about Cambridge Primary Checkpoint tests, through open meetings and newsletters, and at teacher/parent consultations. Benchmarks have been put in place to ensure only those students able to meet a minimum academic standard are put forward for the tests in English, science and maths, with the first cohort taking the tests in May 2016. In response, parents are showing an increasing interest in the use of Cambridge Primary Checkpoint to monitor their children’s progress, and Mme Dib hopes that the tests will become a regular part of both the school’s calendar and culture.