ISKL's Rami Madani on Why Grades Alone Aren't Enough For Future Success

For the past 25 years, Madani has made it his mission to change the narrative that exam results and grades are the end-all for a student. Being a part of a leading school like ISKL and seeing a shift in traditional attitudes about education have only strengthened Madani’s resolve to inspire students to rethink the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of their learning today.

“Schools play such an important role in preparing young people for life—not just the next step after school,” says Madani, who was born in Syria and pursued his tertiary studies in music in Germany before embarking on a teaching career that would take him around the globe.

“Of course, ensuring a student has the grades they need to go to the university of their choice and pursue their career ambition is important but that is simply not enough. We need to prepare them to be happy and successful throughout their lives.”

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He continues: “The skills and learning habits that children develop throughout their formative years at school are vitally important because they quite literally last a lifetime and contribute to leading happy and fulfilled lives. As educators, our role at ISKL is to help students develop these skills and mindsets alongside their academic learning.

“We are preparing our students for a very agile world—by 2030 there will be around one million new occupations,” says Madani. “The ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn is a critical skill. As are flexibility, resilience, the ability to think critically, take care of the well-being of oneself and others, and look at the world from the perspective of others.”

ISKL is an apt demonstration of how these values are put into practice. At its core, the international school’s education philosophy prioritises a robust academic programme while supporting students with social emotional learning and encouraging them to explore their passions and interests. At ISKL, students aren’t pressured to conform but encouraged to find their own voice and make their own choices in learning at every level.

For instance, ISKL’s curriculum includes an Early Childhood ‘Provocations’ approach, designed to nurture a love of learning through play, skills development through initiatives like the Elementary School’s Red Hat Leadership Programme, self-directed student projects in Middle School, and parallel learning pathways in High School which give students the ability to select the path most suited to their learning style and beyond school goals. 

“Learning is enhanced and enduring when students are engaged in activities that are authentic, relevant, and meaningful to them. Combining options and opportunities with voice and choice in learning matters. The potential of every child is unique and our goal is for each one of our students to develop their potential so that they can shape their own path as global citizens, lead fulfilling lives, and create a better world," concludes Madani.

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