An international bilingual English-French private school associated with a residence for the elderly : unique in France, this educational concept was imagined by Jade Amalou, who was a teacher and school principal in Australia. Five years after its opening, the first Ma Kindy school, in Saint-Gilles les Bains, has proven itself and two new schools will be created in Saint-Denis and Saint-Pierre, inside two other EHPADs.
This is an observation that is confirmed year after year in France and elsewhere. : bilingual international high schools occupy the first places in the rankings of the best educational establishments. Also an important innovation in the field of education took place in Reunion with the bilingual primary school Ma Kindy ? In any case, it arouses interest well beyond Reunion Island. L’International Teacher Magazine, British online publication showcasing innovations in education around the world, will soon dedicate an article to it. Housed inside the Marie-Françoise Dupuis seniors’ residence, at Mont Roquefeuille, the school is not luxurious. It’s what’s happening there that deserves attention. Jade Amalou transposed her experience of bilingual classes of English-speaking children learning French to Reunion Island, acquired in Sydney, in Australia, as a teacher and school principal. Back in Reunion, she had the idea of reversing the concept, namely immersive teaching in English of French-speaking children (or Creole speakers) applying the International Baccalaureate program (IB). Ma Kindy implements an English pedagogy through the IB primary program, while guaranteeing the acquisition of common core knowledge set by National Education. Teaching is 70% in English, 30% in French. With the IB, the logic of learning skills is no longer that of traditional French teaching in the form of “courses”. The child here immerses himself in English in all acts of daily life at school, he is constantly learning. And it’s around a major annual thematic educational project (For example, the discovery of the four elements and the consequences of natural disasters) how teaching is structured. Guided by their teachers, children learn skills (language learning, lecture, writing, Calcutta, etc.) through the research they need to complete the project.
Dynamic teaching
Jade Amalou, founder of the Ma Kindy school : “Our teaching is based on an annual educational project chosen and carried out by the children and which they present at the end of the school year. The thematic project is at the heart of IB teaching. The educational project is not only an application of skills learned elsewhere, in class, as in French primary education. This is another way to acquire skills. Children learn by working with teachers, more, in this way, they also learn to learn through their research. Teaching in both languages, and mainly in English, broadens their horizon. This work is very collaborative with the children and between the teachers. There are of course awareness activities added to this. : spectacles, theater, chanson, arts, swimming pools, sports… With this approach, I think we bring together the best of both English and French systems. »
Elderly people, useful aids
Ma Kindy’s other innovation, it is the intergenerational approach to daily teaching and schooling. Ma Kindy’s partnership with the senior residence company Mediaustral allows the school to be attached to an EHPAD. The school is located within the secure grounds of the residence. Far from being bothered by the noise that children can make at certain times, On the contrary, voluntary EPHAD residents appreciate participating in school life : they accompany sewing workshops, cuisine, photos, etc. At the start of reading, elderly people read texts to children. Birthdays are celebrated together. In return, the school brings animation to the residence. So far, this contribution is made spontaneously. Jade Amalou is considering an intergenerational charter which would more formally establish relations between the school and the EHPAD. If we stick to the results of school evaluations, My Kindy can avail herself, upon entering sixth form, of a certain superiority of his students, in all subjects, compared to the average of students in traditional public schools. But it is in the ability to learn, open-mindedness, where is the interest of the IB.
Ma Kindy embarks on secondary education
The Ma Kindy school has the status of a private school outside of a contract with National Education. It is a non-profit association. Not receiving any assistance, she charges for education (10,000 euros per year, roughly the cost of a public school primary school student). It's a small school : it accommodates 45 students based on one teacher(e) for five children. The school communicated little, except on social networks, and it is above all word of mouth which encourages it today to develop to get closer to parents in the North and South of the island.. Until the next school year in September, two new Ma Kindy establishments (nursery and primary sections) open within the Léa senior residence in Saint-Denis and within the intergenerational EHPAD in Saint-Pierre. As for her, the Saint-Gilles les Bains school extends its educational scope to secondary education with the opening of sixth and fifth grade classes. Jade Amadou’s objective is, eventually, to be able to implement the entire IB program, up to the international baccalaureate (recognized in France and around the world). “The international baccalaureate is the key to pursuing higher studies around the world” argues Jade Amalou.
Call to education and early childhood professionals
Within Ma Kindy, opening to the world of international education is also aimed at education and early childhood professionals. The school wants to offer more job opportunities. However, the salaries of its teaching staff are lower than those of public education, this is why recruitment is aimed at education enthusiasts. With the announcement of the opening of two additional schools in Saint-Denis and Saint-Pierre, Ma Kindy offers young graduates in the field of education the opportunity to develop their interpersonal skills as well as their knowledge, while obtaining globally recognized certifications in international education. Working collaboratively with certified international teachers promotes the exchange of skills and knowledge. “The objective of the structure, is to be able to participate in the opening of job opportunities for young people from Reunion. At school, we train and support them so that they can be ready to enter the global job market, in our school or anywhere in the world” summarizes Jade Amalou.
