Applications

When and how can interested schools apply for IAB?

The International Arab Baccalaureate (IAB) is a school-based program. Only students at IAB accredited schools are entitled to enroll in the program and receive the IAB Diploma, provided that they develop the required IAB Student Profile by the end of Grade 12. School accreditation is granted based on a five-phase process:

1.   In Phase 1, the principal (headmaster, or director) of an interested school files the attached “Qualification for Application” form so that the IAB administration ascertains whether the school is qualified to apply for IAB accreditation. Qualification is based, among others, on the criteria mentioned in the checklist of page 3. The school is notified of the outcome within two weeks from the receipt date of the application. Once the school is deemed qualified to apply for IAB accreditation, the school can proceed to Phase 2. If the school is deemed unqualified to apply for IAB accreditation, it has to wait for one year from the notification date before it applies again for qualification. 

2.   In Phase 2, the principal of a school deemed qualified to apply for IAB accreditation applies for “Candidacy” by filling out the appropriate application form. Candidacy status is granted to schools which meet the IAB School Profile, and whose teachers are ready to follow the IAB Capacity Building program. The school is notified of the outcome within one month from the receipt date of the application. Once the candidacy status is granted, the school can proceed to Phase 3. If the status is not granted, the school will be notified of the reasons, and will be offered the chance to work on fulfilling all candidacy conditions within one year of the notification date. The school may apply to reconsider its status any time during that year.

3.   In Phase 3, the principal of a school granted candidacy status applies for a “Provisional Accreditation”. Concerned IAB officers will then arrange with the principal to visit the school and ensure that everything is in order for the school to be granted the provisional accreditation status. These officers will write a visit report based on which the final decision will be made concerning the school’s provisional accreditation. The school is notified of the outcome within two weeks after the visit. Once IAB Provisional Accreditation is granted, the school can set the stage for its teachers to enroll in the IAB Capacity Building program, for the academic year that immediately follows the notification date. If the school is not granted this status, it will be notified of the reasons, and will be offered the chance to work on fulfilling all provisional accreditation conditions within one year. The school may apply to reconsider its status any time during that year.

4.   In Phase 4, Grades 10-12 teachers of a school granted provisional accreditation status enroll in the IAB Capacity Building program for one academic year. Once all concerned teachers have successfully completed the program, the school becomes an “IAB Accredited School”.

5.   In Phase 5, necessary formalities and setups will be completed at the accredited school for the implementation of IAB in Grade 10 during the academic year that immediately follows the accreditation date.

A school wishing to enroll its Grade 10 students in IAB for the academic year 2013-2014 needs to apply for accreditation as follows:

Phase 1: The school principal submits the Qualification for Application form to the IAB Administrative Officer, by March 30, 2012. No application will be accepted after this date.

Phase 2: If the school is qualified, the principal applies for Candidacy by submitting the appropriate form, along with necessary documents and processing fees, by May 4, 2012. Should the application be not received by this date, the school will be considered withdrawn from the accreditation process.

Phase 3: If the school is granted the candidacy status, the principal applies for Provisional Accreditation and arranges for the School Visit by June 15, 2012.

Phase 4: If the school is granted the provisional accreditation status, the principal submits, by July 13, 2012, an application to enroll grades 10-12 teachers in the IAB Capacity Building program, and arranges for the enrollment fees to be paid by that same date. Teachers may then begin the self-paced program so as to successfully complete it by May 2013.

Phase 5: The school is accredited, and provisions are made for the implementation of IAB in Grade 10 for the academic year 2013-2014.