Imagine a global community of schools, educators, and students united by a single purpose: to empower young people with the skills, values, and knowledge they need to build a better, more peaceful world. This is the essence of the International Baccalaureate.
Founded in 1968, the IB was established with an ambitious vision: to develop inquiring, open-minded, and caring young people who help create a world of greater intercultural understanding and respect. Its curriculum is built not on memorization, but on nurturing critical thinking, deep understanding, and cultural openness — through sustained research and inquiry, and by connecting learning to the real world beyond the boundaries of traditional subjects.
What sets the IB apart is that it does not focus on academics alone; it views the learner holistically, nurturing their intellectual, social, and emotional growth together. It cultivates a love of lifelong learning, encourages students to ask questions, explore the connections between different fields of knowledge, and appreciate diverse perspectives and cultures. As a result, students graduate equipped not only with knowledge, but with the awareness, responsibility, and ability to make a positive impact on the world around them. Its four programmes work together to develop in every learner the attributes of the IB Learner Profile.
Its programmes include:
- Primary Years Programme (PYP): For ages 3 to 12, where students learn through six transdisciplinary themes of inquiry that transcend traditional subject boundaries.
- Middle Years Programme (MYP): For ages 11 to 16, expanding and developing lines of inquiry across eight subject groups.
- Diploma Programme (DP): For ages 16 to 19, combining academic subjects with mandatory core elements that encourage students to become more aware of their own perspectives and assumptions.
- Career-related Programme (CP): For ages 16 to 19, combining Diploma studies with career-related skills to effectively prepare students for real-world situations.
Dhahran Ahliyya Schools embarked on this journey out of a belief that education is a mission that extends far beyond the classroom. The Schools earned their first authorization for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in 2018, followed by authorization for the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in the same year, 2018, and are currently candidates for authorization in the remaining programmes — part of an ongoing commitment to empowering our students to make a positive difference in their local and global community.