“The world has changed so fundamentally in the last few decades that the roles of learning and education in day-to-day living have also changed forever”.

 – From the book 21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times

The past year has witnessed an unprecedented surge in digitization and technological advancement that none of us had ever imagined. While the transition might seem difficult, it has opened a world of possibilities and opportunities for human growth and advancement. The future is unpredictable but we have to be ready for it.

Schools now have the responsibility to prepare students for future jobs that we do not know of and technologies that are yet to be invented.

When learning has already surpassed the physical boundaries of the classroom, the holistic development and well-being of students need to be prioritised more than ever. Holistic development refers to the intellectual, social, emotional, mental and physical abilities of a child that enables them to face the challenges of personal and professional life.

In its report entitled THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION AND SKILLS, EDUCATION 2030, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) mentions that “students will need to develop curiosity, imagination, resilience and self-regulation” to navigate the unpredictable future. They will also “need to respect and appreciate the ideas, perspectives and values of others; and they will need to cope with failure and rejection, and to move forward in the face of adversity.  Their motivation will be more than getting a good job and a high income;  they will also need to care about the well-being of their friends and families, their communities and the planet”.

Co-Curricular activities and personality development

Every child has a unique personality and the curriculum must be able to help the child discover their passion and interests while becoming the best version of themselves. Co-curricular activities play a vital role in the holistic development of the students by equipping them with the abilities, skills and values to face the challenges of the future.

Unesco defines Co-curricular activities as “A range of activities organised outside of the regular school day, curriculum or course intended to meet learners’ interests. These activities can help learners become more involved in their school or community and can help them to develop social and soft skills and to promote wellbeing. These activities can include athletics, sports, voluntary work, photography, drama, music, etc.”

By participating in such activities outside the boundaries of textbooks, students get an opportunity to explore their interests and hobbies as they develop the ability to multitask and manage their time effectively.

Skills like creative thinking, problem-solving, analytical thinking and critical thinking also come as part and parcel of participating in co-curricular activities as students learn to examine concepts, come up with new ideas to solve problems and analyse the reason behind different situations.

They also develop leadership skills by taking accountability for their actions, setting goals and motivating others to work towards their goals. Working in a team allows them to develop social and emotional skills as they learn to collaborate, build good relationships with their peers, control their emotions and empathise with others.

“Future-ready students need to exercise agency, in their own education and throughout life. 

Developing 21st-century skills – The Charterhouse way

At Charterhouse Malaysia, we believe in nurturing students with the skills, values, knowledge and attitude

That makes them confident to navigate through any uncertainty in future, seizing opportunities and finding solutions to complex problems. We find that intelligence is not just limited to academic knowledge. It includes being smart about people, understanding, thinking, feelings, situations and oneself.

Design thinking

Another skill deeply incorporated in the Charterhouse curriculum is problem-solving. We use design thinking to teach students to solve problems. Explore, they use research skills to consider the barriers to solving the problem; Apply, they prototype possible solutions; Value, they refine their work based on feedback from their peers, teachers and the community; and Exhibit, they launch their finished product.

Students have plenty of opportunities to develop their problem-solving skills throughout the school year. They use the WEAVE process to gain deep insight into their International Project Qualification and other curricular and extracurricular activities.

Independent Learning Programme (ILP)

The Independent Learning Programme (ILP) forms an integral part of our curriculum at Charterhouse Malaysia. Over the course of their programme, our learners conduct an Independent Research Project aimed at solving a real-world issue. Co-Curricular Activities The project should be linked to the curriculum in one or more of the learner’s subjects. However, a criterion for every project will be that it serves some social or charitable purpose, provides benefit in some way, solves a problem, or otherwise meets the needs of a community.

Paving the way for the future through the Charterhouse curriculum

Good grades alone are not enough to secure a place at the world’s Co-Curricular Activities most prestigious universities. The admission officers at the top-ranked universities want to see evidence

An enquiring mind and an ability to think and work independently. They look for students who are original thinkers and persevere in the face of adversity.

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. – Malcolm X

Charterhouse Malaysia prepares students to meet the demands of tomorrow. Our training of the mind through the ‘Spectra Smarts’ approach develops their full intelligence. Design thinking gives students the skills to solve problems creatively as they learn to collaborate and work in teams. Our emphasis on independent learning projects and commitment to service gets

them active in the community, learning valuable life lessons, which can translate into strong university applications and interviews.

Charterhouse Malaysia aims to build students with a character and personality that empowers

them to be leaders and visionaries, shaping their own lives and impacting the lives of others.

Interested in learning more about the curriculum and co-curricular activities at Charterhouse Malaysia? Drop us a line on our social channels!