Since 2018 we have had front row seats witnessing Ojochal's transformation from a sleepy, backwater hide-away for retiring snowbirds to one of the hottest relocation destinations for young and adventurous families from all over the world.
A central reason for this? The variety of schooling options.
It became quickly apparent to us that Ojochal was to become a vibrant hub for all kinds of learning, allowing many families the ability to live, work and learn in paradise.
Like almost everything else, there is no one type that fits all when it comes to education, and the many choices we have here in Ojochal are a blessing. Each family has their own pressure points, and goals that they wish to realize and achieve when it comes to their child's education. Variety means everyone can be happy.
Having lived away from our home country for more than 25 years, and travelled to scores of other countries, we embrace a broad International focus in everything we do. We believe that for communities to thrive, an awareness of others and a global mindset works best. We also believe that if anything is worth doing, it should be done to the best of our ability. For this reason Jungle Academy's overarching mission is to prepare our students for participation in the globally reputable IGCSE program, with the first syllabus classes starting in 2024 and the first exams being taken in 2026.
International Certificates in General Education (IGCSEs) through Cambridge International sets a global standard for education, and is recognised by universities and employers worldwide. Unlike the multitude of accreditation schemes increasingly available, IGCSE was first taught in 1986 and is therefore well established. and credible.
It is the most recognized general education certificate in the world. Nearly a million learners from 10,000 schools in 160 countries are currently preparing for their future in the IGCSE program. Making it the perfect gateway accreditation for globally minded students.
How will IGCSEs be applied at Jungle Academy?
We have a very clear vision of how IGCSEs will be integrated into Jungle Academy and how it will help students achieve their life long goals. Currently our modular program gives students access to the core subjects, English, Math, Science, Spanish and a Humanity. Of course, we offer a variety of other subjects that students can enjoy each cycle, though our regular students are now in a preparatory phase to eventually focus on taking these five, possibly six, subjects in the IGCSE program once they have turned fourteen years old in 2024.
The Jungle Academy program can therefore be seen as ideal for mid to long term residents in the area who are looking for a coherent, educational pathway for their children between the ages of ten and sixteen. Of course, other students are welcome to join us for any amount of time and still benefit from the multitude of classes we offer, though our underlying mission is to prepare our students to succeed in IGCSEs and go on to greater things.
From 2024, all students aged 14+ can opt to transition from our modular cycle-by-cycle program to the IGCSE syllabus. Subjects are listed below. Each subject will be taught 2-3 hours a week with homework, meaning students will be committed to at least 15 hours of taught classes per week if they wish to take 5 IGCSEs.
Proposed IGCSE subjects to be offered at Jungle Academy from 2024
1) IGCSE English - First Language
Details of the course and past syllabuses can be found here
2) IGCSE Mathematics
Details of the course and past syllabuses can be found here
3) IGCSE Spanish - As a Foreign Language
Details of the course and past syllabuses can be found here
4) IGCSE Combined Science
Details of the course and past syllabuses can be found here
5) IGCSE Geography*
Details of the course and past syllabuses can be found here
*Jungle Academy chooses Geography as our principle humanity, as other humanity subjects like History vary regionally.
Given our unique position here so close to the sea and Osa peninsula, we may also consider offering;
IGCSE Marine Science
Details of the course and past syllabuses can be found here
Having received a solid foundation through our modular program and being given the opportunity to explore curiosities and make connections, we are confident that as students transition into the IGCSE syllabus they will be well set to succeed anywhere in the world.
But this is not all...
At the age of sixteen, having good grades in IGCSEs that are universally accepted by institutions across the world, is only part of the picture. Jungle Academy will have given students a solid foundation in this regard, and it will have been up to parents to compliment the student's learning portfolio with more specialised learnings that are unique to the individual and which allow them to take their first steps on their life journey.
Consider the example.
Student A has a deep love of animals and wants to pursue a career working with animals. Their goal is to study Animal Behavior Science at a university.
After studying hard at Jungle Academy they have achieved grade As, Bs and Cs in six IGCSE subjects. While studying, Student A's parents also signed them up to additional, quality online courses specifically targeting their specific interests. In this case, Ecology and Animal Behavior courses. Student A has also done in person, vocational training with professional dog handlers and dog psychologists.
The traditional 'academic' track:
Student A now has the qualifications to continue along the traditional educational track and apply to study complementary subjects at a school of higher learning anywhere they choose. Allowing them to eventually apply for university aged 18.
The alternate 'expert' track:
Alternatively, Student A may not want to follow the traditional educational route and instead volunteer for one year at a local animal charity in the area. At the age of 17, Student A then goes off to Africa to join a Wildlife program for 18 months.
Eventually, when 19 yo Student A decides it's time to apply for university. Student A's university application is now considered on a much broader basis. Not only do they have the academics covered by the IGCSEs earlier acquired, but the interviewer can take into consideration actual work experience where they have demonstrated their application of knowledge and made real-life decisions while working in a team. When the interviewer asks situational questions instead of replying 'I think I would...', Student A can confidently reply:
'I have experience in that area already and I did X... and I learned Y... and going forward I would do Z, based on my reflections'.
This additional body of work, being relevant work experiences from around the world, does not only put Student A on par with students who have continued with the academic route, it is likely to give them the edge and make them a stronger candidate for a university place.
The above example can be applied to all students, whether they're interested in fashion, photography, film, journalism, music, animals, etc . Having a good foundation in IGCSEs gives them the springboard to be whoever they want when supplemented with real hands-on life experiences..
For people who are already familiar with the GCSE program offered in the UK, they may ask,
In UK schools, Students usually take between 8-10 GCSE subjects, why are students at Jungle Academy only studying 5-6 subjects?
A great question. We believe education does not just happen in the classroom. Yes, we can spend a full day on academics, 5 days a week and cover 10, or even 11 GCSEs. However, carving out time to actually apply what is learned is just as important. Taking time to make new connections with ideas and to people, to practice, to experience trial and error on any number of projects, and to reflect on what is experienced and the consequences of decisions, is just as relevant.
We believe 'education' should not be defined narrowly as the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, but as the joyous and wondrous thing that it is. An enlightening experience, where we develop powers of reasoning and judgement. It is where we guide and promote the intellectual and cultural development of the individual. With this mind, we have concluded that committing to 5-6 iGSCEs via the core subjects allows for a good balance between academics and lived experience, and theory and application, within the umbrella of education.
Of course, students can opt to take more subjects in their own time. Though again Jungle Academy's focus will be on giving all our students a solid base of Math, English, a foreign language, science and a humanity through a globally recognized accreditation.
Additionally our goal is to give students time to study subjects that really matter to them outside of Jungle Academy, and here in the Costa Ballena area we have so many amazing projects that students can connect to.
Come join us. We promise you an educational experience like no other.
Comments