Darwin International adopts Cambridge-style education

MANILA, Philippines - Darwin International School System in Bulacan is actively developing a new breed of Filipino students in the furtherance of Philippine education. Darwin takes strongly after a European tradition in education, particularly from Cambridge University — one of the world’s top schools — which encourages the development of a reading culture.

For this reason, Darwin has a Classic Books Reading Program.

“The library should be a repository of world knowledge, and not a tambayan,” says Darwin president Rolando Dela Cruz, former UP professor, scholar of renowned schools abroad – including the Cambridge University in England – as well as a multi-awarded literary writer. “Thus, we bring the library to the classroom. Every class has a wide-range of classic books for its members to read and enjoy all year-round.”

This, says Dela Cruz, is a system by which the school develops the creative imagination of students and deepens their handle on the English language. This is part of Darwin’s Advanced English language program. In the face of the decline in Filipinos’ proficiency in English, as cited in the surveys of Social Weather Station (SWS), Dela Cruz states that their students have an above-average grasp of English.

The kids average 93 percent in the English component of the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) administered by the Department of Education (DepEd). Darwinians are also known in the communities where the school operates as the best English speakers among the young population.

Complementing Darwin’s solid English program is its intensive Math and Science Program. As a result, majority of the senior students of Darwin belong to the crème de la crème or upper five percent in English, Math and Science components in the NCAE in the whole Division of Bulacan. In fact, many of them yearly get 99+ grades in the said examination.                                                            

The international school further seeks to do more in producing “Renaissance Filipinos”. To date, Darwin is the only school in Region III which offers a Humanities subject from preschool up to high school. Foreign languages such as Japanese and French are also integrated in the curriculum for the students’ language skills development.

Cambridge education is highly hands-on and culture-oriented. Because of this, Darwin students are exposed to museums for their study tours, for which Dela Cruz himself lectures. Elements of painting, sculpture and theater in the context of Philippine and world history are thoroughly discussed in delightful approaches, to the benefit not only of students but also of parents. Student creativity is put to a test on the spot as they stage fun improvisational theater presentations in cultural venues such as the National Museum, Fort Santiago and other Philippine museums as output of their exploration in the mentioned institutions.

To balance the development of students, Darwin annually holds formal dinners so students can also be acquainted on how to conduct themselves when among other people. Dela Cruz’s exposure in the Cambridge system of free thinking while communing with peers in an atmosphere of fun and serious learning, is put to life in the context of the Philippine setting.

Darwin is the only school in Region III that offers a full-fledged Cambridge-based Honours Program wherein all enrollees need to maintain a very high annual average from nursery to high school. Darwin’s comprehensive internationally-oriented program makes its graduates shoe-ins for the top universities in the country. Ninety-three percent (93%) of its graduates pass the entrance examinations of top schools in the Philippines, namely: the University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila, University of Santo Tomas, San Beda College and the Mapua Institute of Technology.

 Darwin International School has been certified as the number one school in Bulacan by its Division Superintendent, Dr. Edna Santos-Zerrudo, based on the school’s performance in the NCAE. To affirm this, Dr. Santos-Zerrudo has issued Certificates of Commendation in the past two consecutive years. Darwin branches are located at Pulong Buhangin and Bagbaguin – both in Sta. Maria; Longos, Malolos City; and San Jose del Monte City.