Ethos of IB course popular with expatriate parents in the UAE

DUBAI // Meeghan Rotmeijer's children are not only reading about cultures of the world but experiencing them at school every day.

Though the mix of nationalities in private schools is not uncommon in the UAE, what drew the mother of two young girls to Dubai International Academy was the curriculum.

"I am in a privileged situation because my mum has been a schoolteacher for 40 years in Australia," said Ms Rotmeijer. "I may not listen to her for everything, but when in comes to education she know what she is saying. And she is a big advocate of the International Baccalaureate (IB).

"My husband is American and I am Australian. It's a mixed culture and we wanted a system that was more international."

She said the global concepts and research-orientated learning was what she was looking for. "When I went to school, you sat down and were lectured and had to memorise."

The IB's philosophy is to "develop internationally minded people who, recognising their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world". That is precisely what Mrs Rotmeijer wants for her children Eden, 6, and Lylah, 4.

* Afshan Ahmed