Asia-Pacific Fredfort International School (AFIS), a world-famous institution in Phnom Penh, has recently fulfilled the requirements to become a candidate of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The IB program provides internationally recognized qualifications, which are accepted by numerous universities worldwide.

Mum Warin, the founder and director of AFIS, previously known as Fredfort International School, said that on June 2015, the school fulfilled the requirements to become a candidate of IB, and that from now on, “all the curriculum and management of AFIS must be in compliance with the program of the IB in English. Meanwhile, IB permits us to include Khmer language, art and sport, which are parts of our identity and our curriculum,” he said.

“In addition, the school has added the Chinese language to the curriculum as well, as they hope that their Chinese students have an equal chance to excel in their academic studies to students in Singapore and China,” added Mum.

Mum expressed how proud AFIS is to become a pre-candidate of IB by bringing world recognized standards to Cambodia.

“We always pay attention to quality education to provide proper knowledge for students in the same manner for students in developed countries.”

With overseas educational experience, Mum clearly understands that the process of the development of each country depends on one main point: intellectual human resources.

“In order to develop a sustainable country, people need a broad range of knowledge, relentless creativity, decent welfare and high morality,” he said.

Mum is passionate in investing in education and sharing it with the next generation because he believes it is his duty to provide what he personally lacked in his school years and could not receive due to Cambodia’s tumultuous years.

“Opening AFIS was a long-term investment that required a lot of patience, with continuous capital added,” he said. “Fortunately, I have other businesses to support our educational facilities, which have also given the chance to students to be recognized internationally,” he said.

His goal is to provide Khmer students with proper knowledge to compete with youths from developed countries for the next generation, he added.

However, because AFIS is an international school, the majority of students who are currently enrolled in the school come from overseas.

In addition, according to Mum, AFIS has received enough financial support over the years that they were able to invest in building a new campus along the national road 6, about one kilometer east from the Chroy Changva Bridge.

“This new location of AFIS extends over one hectare of land, which is appropriate for an international standard school and is equipped with every need, such small and large buildings, spacious classrooms, a canteen, a library, clinics, relaxing spaces, parks and a swimming pool,” Mum said.

In addition, the school will provide sports such as basketball and volleyball, as well as extra-curricular activities, such as workshops and arts.

The new branch will be open on September 1. To celebrate the IB candidacy and the addition of a campus, AFIS plans to give a discount of 10 to 25 per cent on tuition, which is usually $3,000 per student at the kindergarten level.

Being a student who studied in the rural area of Svay Rieng, Mum cannot forget his past, which is why his school offers scholarships to students who can’t afford the tuition.

Fifteen years of effort in providing general knowledge to Khmer and international students in Cambodia is a model investment, and the work he has put into his school has paid off by becoming a candidate of IB.

“This is not just my own achievement,” he said. “This is an achievement of the management board, teachers, students, parents and guardians who have encouraged and supported AFIS.”