Personally, IB came to me since I was in elementary school. My school has always had a wide interest in the development of students, especially when it comes to the IB. I remember seeing my school logo on the right side of my uniform with the IB emblematic initials, and thinking: “One day, I’ll be a part of this”. Surely, I wasn’t the only student to think that. However, there was a determination and commitment I was willing to have. As I got to high school, the final decision must be made: Is IB really what I want? The answer became clear as I listened to each melodic comment on the topic: Yes.
Personal Experiences and Insights
As the new semester started and my first year in the IB Diploma Programme had finally arrived, I must admit I was really hopeful and joyful. As I received my schedule, I was intrigued by the particular names of TOK, CAS, and the Extended Essay, one of the most emblematic challenges students manage and overcome throughout their diploma program journey.
Without expecting it, these three particular subjects became key towards the development of my reflective, communicative, and critical thinking skills. TOK (Theory of Knowledge) has become one of my favorites because of its versatility, flexibility, and connection with other disciplines and daily life experiences. CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) has led me to a greater conscience of what currently goes around in the world. The Extended Essay became a way to express my deepest ideas on the topics that take my mind towards the clouds.
When it comes to choosing subjects, my school offers the following: Biology SL, Physics SL, Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches SL, Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations SL, History SL, Language B SL, Language A SL and Digital Society HL. There are plans on expanding this selection in the future. Students are allowed to decide between Analysis and Approaches and Applications and Interpretations for mathematics and between Physics and Biology for the sciences. This way, students can integrate what they are good at and feel most comfortable with.
In other IB schools in my country, students are allowed to choose between these aforementioned subjects and other IB subjects. Also, level selection is flexible as well. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is applied as usual inside my country, yet, since there are some differences such as subject or level selection it becomes an experience getting to know each school’s methods of applying the Diploma Program.
Comparing Costa Rica’s national program with the IB, each has had their own particularity. HL level subjects are taught more intensively than their equivalents in Costa Rica’s national program. For example, Language B (English) inside the HL level is quite different from English as a subject in the national program, Language B focuses on the development of the language through evaluating global aspects of interest while the national programme may focus on technical aspects of the language such as grammar. For the SL level, subjects develop reflective skills widely because it has given me the opportunity to discuss global issues with the help of research along with personal ideals. They tend to have very different papers and assessments from each other that makes each one unique and adapted to the discipline.
Honestly, there are certain changes implemented in other schools inside Costa Rica. For example, in the case of Biology SL, my school teaches it in Spanish with the study guide in English whereas in other schools, Biology SL is taught only in English. Yet, this hasn’t been a challenge. I have learned that the IB is so well designed that the syllabus adapts to each school’s level and language, making what we can actually call a community and not only a wide range of schools teaching the same program.
Overall, my experiences have been unforgettable and have fully introduced me to a new and better academic world. The chance of taking the IB has been not only a privilege but also an opportunity to bloom into a better citizen and student of my country.
Pros of IB in Costa Rica
As Costa Rica opened its doors for the IB, its educational system has met an integral program that prepares students for a better future. Definitely, while evaluating the positive points of the diploma program in my country, its expansive outreach is the first aspect of the list. The IB in my local community helps young minds in a crucial way though guiding them as they explore unknown ground. The different kinds of papers and the diversity between them offers an experience of acquiring new knowledge and problem solving skills. One of the best ways to learn is through experiences, and no doubt the IB program in Costa Rica is aware of this.
The program also offers students the opportunity to explore the world. Costa Rica has great universities, but there are students who visualize themselves outside of their home country. The program extends the opportunity of perceiving countries as an educational destination and not just for traveling for a couple of weeks. IB students in my country have had great success with this.
As I mentioned before, one of the subjects the program offers is CAS that doubles as an extracurricular activity. By this, students are more aware of the issues happening nationally and the way each student has the chance of giving their help. It is very common to see posts on social media that address a voluntary action that young people can be a part of. Examples of these include picking trash from beaches, helping orphans or elders, raising funds for institutions who need it, and conscience about indigenous communities among others. All these possibilities enable a real IB student to be conscious about local issues.
Cons of IB in Costa Rica
One of the main cons of IB in Costa Rica is that not every school has the same subjects or the same level of this. For example, not every school teaches Visual Arts, Psychology, Business, etc. This can impact students in a negative way, since they aren’t able to develop other sets of skills as students that do have these subjects. It goes further than learning about lines of inquiry for Visual Arts. For example, it has to do with the thinking abilities or creativity it implies. Nonetheless, the schools that do not offer these subjects are currently working towards offering them to their students in future years.
Another negative point has to be the pressure. Although this can be a global aspect and not a local one, it is clear that the current educational system doesn’t prepare every student the same way. This means that teenagers can apply to the IB Diploma Programme with very little awareness of the real challenges that must be faced. Also, this means that many students struggle inside the programme in understanding some courses, assessments, and overall performance.
Additionally, some schools are pioneering certain IB courses or the IB programme as a whole for the first time, thus requiring extra help to run the program. Engaging with such a different form of education implies some special challenges on the way. This is when students, teachers and institutions must have a sort of partnership and learn to complement each other. Costa Rica’s non-IB schools who later take on the IB program are also exposed to an educational barrier because some lack awareness on the importance of extracurricular activities. In the IB, extracurricular activities have the role of accompanying students towards achieving mesmerizing and educational experiences outside school. This is why, schools that are not familiar with the whole program must create a deeper commitment with the whole understating and achievement of CAS goals.
Concluding ideas
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is clearly designed to encourage students to engage in the current world and walk towards their future with every skill learned and applied. Students who have the chance of experiencing how the IB community works can get skills and knowledge for a great professional future.
Every school has had their own experiences and acquired knowledge with the program. But one thing is sure, the program has offered Costa Rica’s youth a chance to work on themselves in a different atmosphere. Each aspect of life has its pros and cons, but the pros have been clearly wider than the cons when it comes to the “friendship” between Costa Rica and the IB Diploma Programme.
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