Looking at the global landscape, the question that arises in the minds of most is, ‘Where is this world going?’ For the ardent students of the world, the changing paradigm raises the question of credibility that is defining success in this modern world for many prominent educational institutes.
Though the world today is moving forward with collaborative effort, humanity and technology, it is the thinkers—the values inceptors of the society—that define the success of a society.
‘But what are the values that define the success of a society?’
A question for everyone to answer, right?
Well, global values like Pride, Unity, Respect, Internationalism and Knowledge are the major indicators of society moving forward. Though the commercial world is pretty unified with the combination of human mistakes and errors, it is the educational institutes that groom the youth of a society that set the benchmark for progress.
Finding such schools in the heart of a Global growth indicating country like Malaysia, we came across Templer Park International School, which has set the benchmark of collective efforts that can uplift society on the bedrock of international values.
After recognizing this prestigious international school as one of The Most Admired International Schools in Southeast Asia 2022, we caught up with Dr Mohammad Fadi Qaddo, the school’s Chief Innovator and Transformational Officer (CITO).
In an immersive exchange of progressive thoughts on grooming the students, Dr Mohammad Fadi Qaddo highlighted the story of TPIS and how it became one of the most admired schools in Southeast Asia.
The Body Sketch of Inspirational International Portrait
Located in the heart of the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Templer Park International School is an inspirational Portrait that is uplifting the education standards for the future advancements of society.
Spread across 17 acres, the schoolhouses spacious classrooms for academic excellence, playgrounds for sound physical fitness, basketball and football courts for creating future global superstars and a half-Olympic size pool and zipline for complete holistic development of students.
Talking about the incredible infrastructure of the school. Dr Mohammad Fadi Qaddo says, “The main concept of the school is to connect the students with their mother nature while enjoying a creative learning experience. The school architecture was inspired by the lifestyle of the Orang Asli of Malaysia with a modern blend of technology and futuristic sciences, which makes the school unique in its concept.”
4 Progression Pillars of TPIS
The Pillar of Creativity and Transformation
Dr. Mohammad Fadi Qaddo (Chief Innovation & Transformation Officer) is responsible for the overall transformational process of the school for creating a community that will uplift and flourish with everyone.
Explaining his influence and role at the school, the school management highlights, “His role at TPIS is to strike the right balance between short-term improvement and long-term value, and between making sure line managers themselves take responsibility for change and personally ensuring they deliver results quickly and with suitably high ambition.”
The Pillar of Progression
Mr. Ali Mohammad Ghuname (Chairman) is a unique personality who has recognized and decided to act on his natural instincts of being an influential educator. He is on an impressive mission to offer competitive educational programs in real-world settings and uplift the diverse population aiming to develop and strengthen the youth with the true power of knowledge.
Highlighting Mr Ali’s influence on the TPIS, the school management says, “With TPIS, he engages with society in the creation of knowledge and promotion of research to achieve local and regional development.”
The Pillar of Execution
Mr. Abdulghani Alrumaih (Board Member) was named ‘the falcon’ due to his high goals and a sharp vision for success; he was a unique visionary and was on a mission to help others start and build their dreams as he did. Moreover, he is also a leading technical-vocational trainer providing guidance to local jobseekers.
Talking about his importance at TPIS, the school management says, “Representing TPIS as a delegate to several national and international conventions and is currently active in community services.”
The Pillar of Values
Mr. Mohamad Mohamad Eliwa (Board Member) is the turnkey education solution provider for K-12 and vocational schools. Similar to the founders of the school, he also asserts higher importance on lifelong learning and aims is creating lifelong learning centres and public libraries.
Asserting his importance in setting the values and providing education solutions to the school, the school management highlighted, “Those solutions could include anything from customized curriculum development to creating interactive enrichment materials; equipping and integrating a smart school with technology and tools, and improving usage of your own materials by digitizing print and developing interactive lessons and quizzes.”
Creating a Community of Engagement
Templer Park International School was established with the mission of ‘Transforming Lives of Learners’. However, this mission of the school needed a vision, holding communication and engagement as the core elements. TPIS’s vision to create an impact is to ‘Create a Community of Engagement’. Instilling this visionary mission of creating a transforming community, TPIS aims to nurture students to be ready for the challenges put forth in the future.
Talking about the core values that drive the school forwards, Dr Mohammad Fadi Qaddo says, “TPIS provides a nurturing environment with a world-class personalized learning approach that is grounded in each student’s unique experiences, capabilities, and interests. We believe that all children are ambitious by nature and can achieve their greatest aspirations with support and access to an exemplary global education.”
Educating the Students to be Part of International Community
With roots in the community and dual international curriculum on British IGCSE and American curriculum, we develop lifelong learners who are resilient, confident, and capable of shaping the world around them.
Emphasizing why the school adapted the dual international curriculum and the effect it has on the community, Dr Mohammad Fadi Qaddo says, “No matter where our students come from, they leave better prepared with a global passport to their future. We are a community of learners with a mission to transform the lives of learners, giving learners control and the understanding as to how to own their own learning by creating a community engagement where everyone can participate with diversity and inclusion.”
Creating Lifelong Learners for the 21st Century
The 21st Century has seen considerable technological advancement in day to day lives of humans. Explaining how the school prepares its students for the 21st Century, Dr Mohammad Fadi Qaddo highlights, “We adopt many technological advancement methods for the students’ disposal as materials and guidance to explore and provide new solutions and ideas that can be implemented in the ever-evolving lifestyle. Students are seen as developers, artists, and leaders, and the school presses on the importance of giving the utmost help and advice in fuelling the student’s development.”
International Education Making the World a Global Village
Ever since the idea of a global village was incepted in the minds of humans, education has been held as the catalyst in making the world a global village. Briefly explaining how the current scenario has brought the world closer than ever before, Dr Mohammad Fadi Qaddo says, “From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, just over two years ago, it has changed us as human beings and has dramatically altered the way we teach and learn. Many of these changes will surely impact K–12 education for years to come. With the help of technology and shifting the mindsets toward accepting virtual learning, students are no longer restricted to attending schools in the local area. Instead, they can attend any school of their choice worldwide. While doing so with no geographical boundaries, the community becomes larger, and more experiences and cultures can be introduced.”
Unique Education Facilities at TPIS
- The largest “Green Park” school in Malaysia
- Science Innovation Park
- VR Simulation & Augmented Reality embedded curriculums
- Robotics automation, IoT, and Raspberry Programming labs
- 3D Printing, Graphic Designing, 3D drawing and modelling labs
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
- Drone Piloting
- Cyber Security and Cloud Computing labs
- Alternative & Renewable Energy
- Web Development & Mobile Applications
- Big Data Analytics and Innovation labs
- Scouting, Camping, & Hiking Facilities
- Zipline facilities
- High-tech environment
- Outstanding auditorium
- Football playground
- Half-Olympic swimming pool
- Outdoor cafeteria
- More than 20 acres of green space
Programs offered are:
- Early childhood education (Pre-KG, KG1, KG2)
- Primary School Education (Grade 1 – Grade 6)
- Middle School Education (Grade 7 – Grade 9)
- High School Education (Grade 10 – Grade 12)
Awards Achievements and Accreditations
Over the years, TPIS managed to build successful relationships with many accreditations and industry bodies like the Cambridge Assessment International Education, The American International Accreditation Association (AIAAsc), Google for Education, Edmentum, Arabia Inform, AskZad digital Library, Bareq, SchooPedia, Veative, Kalemon, Tafe, Tabian, Hawwaz, NAPEI, Al Dar University College, and Al Motahida Educational Group.
Taking the Community Forward
TPIS recognizes education as a tool for empowerment and to driving force behind taking society forward. Grooming the students in such an acentric environment, Dr Mohammad Fadi Qaddo says, “TPIS actively participates in community engagement whereby we connect closely with organizations and groups that influence the growth and development of student’s cognitive and moral learning with the outside world. We give every student space to express themselves and suggest their own opinions.”
Inspiring to Build Future Leaders
“With new thoughts and knowledge to build future leaders, TPIS students will become more capable of exploring and discovering new opportunities, resulting in greater social innovation. Innovation can help to solve various kinds of social problems and increase the standard of living through innovative products or services, which is essential for the advancement of society,” says Dr Mohammad Fadi Qaddo, the CITO of TPIS.
An Educator’s Advice to Future Educators
When asked about advising the aspirants entering the field of education, Dr Mohammad Fadi Qaddo says, “Aspiring into the education sector is significantly associated with a few special skills and knowledge. The following words of advice are remarkably important for those who aspire to venture into the education sector:
- Skill-based education: Focusing on skill-based education helps mitigate the understanding gap and maintain a stable position in the education sector (Flores et al., 2020).
- Teaching capacity: The education sector is significantly attached to teaching, where this skill can assist in venturing into this specific sector.
- Instructional leadership ability: Pambudi and Gunawan (2019) propounded that possessing instructional leadership is one of the most crucial to becoming an educational professional.”
The Last Stroke of Paint of the Canvas
Envisioning the future of the school moving forward, Dr Mohammad Fadi Qaddo envisions, “TPIS priority is to become the most successful and highly respected school with very high standards leading to outstanding students’ achievements and holistic outcomes. We must uphold and continue these as they are the foundations for student success and access to further educational opportunities for students. At the same time, we must prepare our students with the contemporary skills, attributes and understanding of concepts that prepare them for their fast-changing, globally connected, ambitious and technology-rich future to enable them to lead the world into an even better future.”
