Last week, we had visitors from GSD Spain join us to visit ARIS!
They are starting up a new GSD School in Cameroon, and they came to ARIS to have a look at an IB World School, in West Africa, and future possible collaboration!
After their visit to Primary, they also visited our Secondary Campus and gave a talk to our students and answered some of their questions as to what their school is, and represents.
GSD is not an IB School, they clarified, but the methodology is very similar to the IB Philosophy. Their educational model has national plus supplementary elements incorporated in it, for example, sports, nature, global education and cooperative work.
These schools are cooperative, and what is essential to them is the experiential learning and journey that occurs through cooperation of all key players. “Everyone who is a part of the school is participating in the Educational process, whether they are teachers or non-teachers”
Although this level of cooperation may not be common across educational systems around the world, they said that it works for GSD because everyone is willing and ready to be a part of a group working towards a common goal.
GSD started as a very small school, with only 300 students and now it is a school with 1500 students, in Madrid, Costa Rica, and now Cameroon. Their mission and vision is based on the “purpose to improve and transform society through education.” In order to grow, we must share.
The most powerful weapon to transform the world through education is a human being, and if humans work together towards the same goal as they grow and develop ideas with other people, then nothing can stop change!
A student asked them about Language! As they set up schools in different countries, how do they address the language barrier? They answered that once they set up in Costa Rica a year back, it was easier as the language was Spanish. Moreover, they had worked in Costa Rica for 14 years before the school was set up. Cameroon is the main challenge, as it has French! Nevertheless, once an opportunity rises up, then they work it out, and one of them also is fluent in French.
The key to being successful in different cultural contexts to them, is to develop an emotional relationship with the people in the country and the country in itself. Cameroon, they said, is a result of their social responsibility; to serve to society what they know. A Multinational Corporation in Cameroon gave them the opportunity to build a school and run the school.
All students across these schools, have the principle to transform. They said that the opportunities to collaborate and be in touch with local settings is as much as the opportunities to branch out with other schools and students in other parts of the world. ARIS would definitely love to!
Of course, there are various challenges and setbacks, like the motivation and the local challenges, however, the children are NEVER the problem. Children can be taught to be open minded through exposure, and they are highly motivated and ready to absorb information.
They advised to our students that if they ever have the chance to work with small children, they should do so as it is very rewarding.
Talks were of a possible future exchange programme. They also mentioned that GSD has various exchange programmes with different countries around the world, for different experiences, for example, a Musical Exchange programme with Romania, a Sports and Arts Exchange with China, a Tech Exchange with Japan. It’s a great way to meet with children who come from different contexts and realities, they said, which increases exposure.
Not too different from ARIS, the GSD Methodology is transverse. They couple traditional teaching methodology with innovation. Here at ARIS, ‘Blended Learning’ is a methodology adhering to a similar philosophy. GSD maintains a constant contact with nature, which contributes to personal growth in the students.
Our students also asked them, “You inspire your students to transform, but how do you empower them with facilities and resources?”
Through their experiential learning and opportunities of exposure provided to them, for example, when they go on exchange programmes, not only are they able to learn about other cultures, but also take ample ownership of their own, which is a very empowering exercise. Making connections, very similar to what ARIS preaches!
As the talk came to a class, and the last couple of questions were being asked, our students asked about setting up a possible penpal system for educational and personal growth development! Maybe one day it could lead to more!
They looked around the ARIS Secondary School and got inspiration from our methodology and philosophy as well!
Collaboration is the future! Look forward to many opportunities as such.