New international school set to open

THALANG: Phuket International Academy (PIA), under construction on Soi Teenped-Nanai, in Baan Nanai and next to Khao Pra Taew National Park, is scheduled to open on September 8 with its first students, ranging from nursery to Grade 4, taking classes.

The academy, once complete, will run through senior high school and a boast modern sports and performing arts facilities. All construction is scheduled to be complete by September 2009.

The academy’s director, Iranian clinical psychologist Mohammed Ali Khakpoor, said, “Phuket International Academy provides an experience-centered, rigorous and well-rounded education for a diverse community.

“Recognizing that students have a variety of needs at each developmental stage and learn in different ways, the school is committed to help each student learn well and to develop into a citizen of the world.”

Elaborating on the curriculum to be used, the school’s website states, “We believe that academic success leads to career success and that many kids can get there. But we also recognize that there is more than one way of learning – that not all kids learn in the same way.

“Our award-winning curriculum brings lessons to life with a rich mixture of on- and offline teaching tools, including interactive animations, printed books with beautiful illustrations and narratives, original CDs and videos, and hands-on materials for experiments.

“Lessons are followed by assessments so you can be sure that your child has mastered a particular area before moving on. Built-in planning and progress tools make it easy to keep on track.

“Each lesson is created by a team of experts, using tried-and-true educational approaches and the patented methodology for online instruction.”

The school, located on about 125 rai, aims to have more than 700 students in attendance.

The school adopts the philosophy that students learn in different ways at different developmental stages and focuses on developing its students’ critical thinking, creativity, emotional condition and physical well-being.

Students are expected to develop a strong sense of both personal and social responsibility and on completing their studies to have grown into grounded individuals with a life-long passion for learning.

The school is now accepting enrollments at its Phuket Boat Lagoon marina office.

At the time of going to press, Mr Khakpoor was unavailable to elaborate further on details about the school, such as teachers’ qualifications, entrance fees and specific study units in the curriculum.

However, he said he would be available soon to explain exclusively to the Gazette all such aspects of the school.