"Yes, that’s right, that’s how our holistic approach in teaching works," says EIS’s Tony Esteban. "While in school, our students learn all the lessons and skills they need. We encourage students to explore and inquire on their own. So while at home or during weekends, it’s up to them to read more about their lessons. But we believe that after school, the kids deserve to have more time for their family, for play, hobbies and so on." It works well for EIS students.

In order to achieve quality learning, EIS sees to it that for each class, there are only 15 students, with two teachers alternating. That means a more focused method of instruction. Individual problems are corrected at once.

It is not only a teacher-student relationship that is being developed in EIS. Parents are also involved as they are updated on what’s happening inside the classroom. Because in the end, they are the number one motivator in their child’s learning process.

Parents are encouraged to attend not only meetings but workshops conducted for teachers. Recently, an expert develop mentalist gave a lecture on aspects of learning, including deficiencies of students. She emphasized that it’s important for both teachers and parents to know what to expect from the students and how to be careful in handling special cases like those afflicted with ADND. Parents are present in many school activities that foster friendship and cultivate cultural awareness.

Recently, they participated at the Dusit Hotel’s presentation of school choirs. On December 2, the whole student population of EIS performed select Christmas Carols, accompanied by their own student-pianist, -flutist and -acoustic guitarist.

Although based in Makati City, EIS has satellite schools in Alabang and Taguig. The Makati branch offers nursery to grade seven level while the Alabang and Taguig schools offer nursery to senior kindergarten levels. Since 1964, EIS has been offering the best international education in the Philippines at affordable prices.

"We didn’t increase our tuition fee. Here in EIS, at an affordable amount, we continue to cultivate the habit of learning and develop responsible and bright citizens of tomorrow."

EIS has a Department of Education-accredited curriculum. It follows the DepEd required subjects but the secret to EIS’s successful methods of instruction is the International Baccalaureate (IBO) Program of Inquiry. It is a modern method that emphasizes that learning is relevant, experiential and most of all, enjoyable. EIS is an all-Filipino owned learning institution, which happens to be a member of the European Council of International Schools. For decades, EIC has been working closely with ECIS to ensure that the highest international standards of education are maintained.

Esteban concludes:"At EIS, we don’t just encourage learning by cultivating the habit of inquiry, of knowing where to find but how to filter information. That’s important because nowadays, with developments like the Internet, students must know which one to believe and absorb."

And there’s no magic involved at all. For inquiries, call The Flame Tree Campus in Taguig at tel. nos. 844-9913/844-9915; Carissa Campus in Makati, 845-3971/845-3961; Alabang Campus, 807-9145/(0917) 819-9455, or e-mail at mej@i-manila.com.ph.