International Arab Baccalaureate

Why IAB?

ERC is developing IAB to answer the call, in the Arab World, for a common secondary school diploma that promotes meaningful learning, respects local cultures, meets the highest educational standards in the world, and fulfills the most rigorous requirements for admission at major universities worldwide. The need for such an internationally recognized Arab diploma has been driven, among others, by the following:

The shortcomings of prevalent assessments that concentrate on the recall of textbook contents, and that subsequently foster rote learning rather than meaningful learning of curriculum materials.
The urge of local and international universities, job market, and other concerned authorities, for reliable indicators of the educational profile of secondary school graduates.
The inability of national exit exams to promote what local and international curriculum reform were originally meant to achieve.
The questionable authenticity of many school assessments and national exit exams, especially when university achievement does not correlate with prior school achievement.
The reluctance toward existing international exit exams and diplomas, regarded by many an Arab as grounded in a somewhat foreign culture.

What is IAB?

IAB is a general education secondary school degree that ERC will confer on students who develop a well-defined profile by the end of their education at ERC accredited schools throughout the Arab World.
ERC is working to have IAB recognized by ministries of education and concerned accreditation agencies, and accepted for entry at major universities in the Arab World and elsewhere, especially in Europe, North America and Australia.
Key features of IAB include the following:

IAB relies on formative and summative assessment to guide teacher and student in the direction of meaningful rather than rote learning, and to promote cooperation rather than competition among schools and students.
IAB continuous assessment throughout grades 10, 11 and 12 culminates in a diploma that reliably reflects the evolution of individual students throughout secondary school years (and eventually K–12), rather than providing a snapshot of student test-taking potentials on a single set of exit exams.
IAB is grounded in a unique, research-based framework which ERC has developed to bring about well-rounded citizens who meet educational, national and cultural aspirations in various parts of the Arab World, and who are empowered for success in higher education, workplace and everyday life.
All IAB matters are constantly revised, refined and implemented in full partnership with participating schools and concerned agencies.
Above all, IAB is the first, and only, program of its kind based in the Arab World and run by Arab and international experts, for the benefit of students in this World.