QSI International School of Dushanbe

QSI International School of Dushanbe
Location
Dushanbe Tajikistan
Information
Type	Private; Non-Profit
Established	2004
School district	Quality Schools International
Director	Larry Sessions
Grades	K-12
Enrollment	≈85
Mascot	Snow Leopard
Website	www.qsi.org/tajikistan/tjk/

QSI International School of Dushanbe is a branch of the non-profit organization Quality School International and is located in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. QSI International School of Dushanbe was founded in 2004 as a private institution and currently has 84 students. QSI International School of Dushanbe teaches students from elementary school to secondary school with a curriculum entirely in English. In addition to English, there are also other foreign-language classes offered in Russian, German, French, and Chinese.

Mission Statement

Sovetskaya 85, Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Virtually every five year old comes to school eager to learn. The mission of Quality Schools International (QSI) is to keep this urge to learn alive in every child in QSI schools. Our schools are established to provide in the English language a quality education for students in the cities we serve. These students are the children of parents of many nationalities who have come to a foreign country, usually for a limited stay of a year or more. Some students are permanent residents, citizens of the host country.

Our schools follow a logical model of education which measures success by the accomplishments and attitudes of our students. We believe that all of our students can succeed, that their successes encourage them to continue in a pattern of success, and that it is the schools' responsibility to provide the conditions for success. These conditions include i) developing clear statements in measurable terms of what the student will do to demonstrate mastery of learning, ii) providing the time and resources needed for each student to attain mastery, and iii) ensuring that students engage in learning at a level which is challenging and yet a level for which each student has the prerequisite skills necessary for success.

We believe in providing an aesthetically pleasing physical surrounding under the charge of a caring staff who believe their students will be successful, and who use time with the students as a resource for learning rather than as a boundary condition to determine when a unit of learning begins and ends. We believe in providing resources such as books, learning materials, and educational technology. In the world today children need to become proficient in the use of computers and related technology as tools to accomplish a myriad of tasks.

Finally we believe in working with parents to encourage our students to adopt qualities of living which lead to success long after formal schooling has ended. These include universally accepted "success orientations" of trustworthiness, kindness/politeness, responsibility, independent endeavor, concern for others, group interaction, and aesthetic appreciation.^[1]

Dushanbe Mission Statement

We are committed to teach and motivate each child to succeed and reach their maximum potential as global citizens and lifelong learners.

Facilities

The library in Building 1 of QSI Dushanbe

QSI Dushanbe was first established in 2004 at 2 Osipenko Street. The school changed its location on March, 2010 since the student population grew to 39 students and the facility no longer provided the necessary space for the development of the school. The school relocated to its present address at 85 Sovetskaya Street.

It was determined that the QSI Dushanbe community would be best served by leasing the available adjacent building located at 107 Sovetskaya Street (building 2). In March 2011, the preschool, five-year-old and nine and ten-year-old classes moved to the new building. The art classroom was expanded, giving teachers and students more space to explore and create. In addition, a two-year-old program and after-school daycare program were initiated. A security grant was awarded to provide bars on the windows and hire additional guards. At the start of the 2013-2014 school year, the school passed an annual safety inspection by professional engineers from the U.S. Embassy. An extra computer lab for secondary education purposes was added in 2013. The school Director is currently looking at one of the neighboring buildings with plans to attach it to the school. The school must accommodate to the various needs of the growing student body with the ultimate goal of building a new purpose-built facility.^[2]

Information Resources and Technology

The QSI Dushanbe was established in 2004. During the years of 2004-2008, 7 computers were purchased. In the fall of 2008, the computer lab was small and could only fit 6 computers. The computer lab had hard wire internet capability only (no Wifi). In the fall of 2009, the school acquired the new building and the computer lab was set up in the library as part of an information resource center. In the fall of 2010, Destiny was purchased and the school signed an online subscription. GRASP and funds from the school’s budget were used to authorize legal software and to purchase 14 updated computers.

In the school year of 2010-2011, the school hired a part-time technology teacher and support. A new internet package with bigger traffic and faster speed was obtained. In April 2011, all computers were networked and a black & white and a colored printer were also purchased in this year. In 2010, the school began its implementation of a new QSI technology curriculum. In the summer, the school purchased a digital camera and a projector. In the winter of 2011, five more computers were purchased. In the fall 2012, a teacher workstation (room) was created. In December 2012, Destiny was updated by a specialist. In January 2013, the school purchased a server for Destiny and data transfer. The internet traffic and the internet speed was increased. The QSI Dushanbe is continuously upgrading their technological resources around the school. Over the last few years, QSI Dushanbe has done a lot to improve the school’s technology system to ensure that the students have all the technological resources to succeed.

Educational Program

QSI Dushanbe students studying in one of the classrooms

The Elementary program of QSI Dushanbe consists of grades 1-8 and the curriculum is based on the American education system. The subjects that are taught include: Mathematics, Literature, Writing, Cultural Studies, Music, Art, Physical Education, Science, Technology, Study Skills, Russian, French, and German.^[3]

QSI Dushanbe offers a secondary program that leads to a Secondary School Diploma. The three diplomas that are offered by QSI Dushanbe are the general diploma, the academic diploma, and the academic diploma with honors. The academic diploma requires a total of 240 credits, while the academic diploma with honors requires at least two Advanced Placement (AP) classes on top of 240 credits. The general diploma requires a total of 220 credits and is available to students experiencing English language difficulties, time restraints, or other challenges that make it impractical to pursue an academic diploma. The general diploma is only available to students who are in their fourth year of secondary studies or who will turn 18 years old no later than 30 October following their graduation.^[4]

The QSI schools all over the world constantly work together to develop and improve the QSI Elementary and Secondary curriculum.

References