Middle Years Program (MYP) Gr. 6 - Gr. 10

Dar es Salaam International Academy (DIA) is an International Baccalaureate World School since 2010 and fully authorized to implement the IB Middle Years Programme.

IB World Schools share a common philosophy - a commitment to improve the teaching and learning of a diverse and inclusive community of students by delivering a challenging, high quality of programmes of international education that share a powerful vision**.

DIA offers the IBMYP from Grade 6 - Grade 10, and chose this programme due to both the academic rigour as well as the fact that it allows students to challenge themselves and excel both academically as well as personally.

All of the IB Programmes focus on developing well-rounded global citizens, with the IB Learner Profile being central. The Learner Profile is made up of ten (attributes) of which students, and all other stakeholders of the school aim to exemplify. These include, being risk-takers, caring, balanced, courageous, principled, inquirers, open-minded, knowledgable, communicators and thinkers.

The MYP encourages students to be creative, reflective, and most importantly critical thinkers. It emphasizes on connections between subject areas, global contexts within the real world. The importance of communication, intercultural awareness and global engagement are essential components to create the future global leaders.

The MYP as well as all the IB Programmes, are holistic and believe in developing the whole student. There are components of Community & Service built not only into the curriculum, but also as an additional mandatory requirement for MYP students.

In the final year of the MYP at DIA (Grade 10), students are expected to undertake an independent project that provides them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned over their years in the MYP. This project must be done independently so they are able to produce a truly personal and creative piece of work that stands as a summative review of their ability to conduct independent work. They begin this project towards the end of Grade 9 and submit it in Term 2 of Grade 10. It involves critical thinking, research, transfer of skills and an ability to present and justify their work. This culminating project is known as the “Personal Project”.

The IB Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) consists of eight subject groups and students must achieve a minimum of 50 hours per subject group within each academic year. 

Subject Groups:

- Language Acquisition (French)

- Language and Literature

- Individuals and Societies

- Sciences

- Mathematics

- Arts *

- Physical and Health Education**

- Design

* DIA offers our MYP students Visual Arts as well as Performing Arts, which are comprised of Dance, Music and Drama. This academic year we will also be introducing some units of Film in order to further expose our students. In Year 5 (Grade 10), students may make the choice of whether they will be focusing on Performing Arts or Visual Arts for the last year of the MYP. 

** DIA offers our MYP students both Swimming and Physical and Health Education. 

The MYP is a unique programme due to its flexibility as well as its approach towards teaching, learning and assessment. Students are taught to develop their personal understanding of subject groups, as well as their sense of self and their responsibility towards their community. 

MYP teachers must organize the curriculum with attention to:

- Teaching and learning in context

- Conceptual Understanding

- Approached to Learning (e.g. time management, organization, information literacy, transfer of knowledge etc.)

- Service as action (Community Service)

- Language and Identity

DIA MYP students are given opportunities to display their learning through varied and rigorous assessments, as well as through special events, field trips, extra-curricular activities such as Model United Nations, Student Council, Sports teams and more. 

Teachers organize continuous assessment throughout units of work according to specific assessment criteria and objectives, which are unique to each subject group.

 It is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure that they have shared the expectations of the assessment as well as the objectives and criteria of the units at the beginning of each unit of work.  We want all of our students to succeed and to be able to reach the highest expectations. 

Assessment can come in many forms and it is encouraged that it is varied within subject groups, they must be valid and relevant and be able to relate to multiple types of learners. Examples of assessments are:

- Open-ended, problem solving activities

- Investigations

- Hands-on Experimentation

- Analysis and Reflection

Peer and Self-Assessment opportunities are also given and students must continuously reflect on their learning in order to understand it in context. 

The MYP believes in student-centered, holistic learning, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to excel and achieve to their highest potential.