Sis Myanmar

The PACE Philosophy at SIS Myanmar

At the heart of SIS Myanmar's educational model is the proprietary PACE framework, developed by the SIS Group of Schools and embedded throughout the curriculum from Nursery to Year 11. PACE stands for Perseverance, Analytical Thinking, Collaboration (Communication), and Entrepreneurism — four competencies the school identifies as essential for success in the modern world.

Perseverance

SIS Myanmar encourages a growth mindset in all students, cultivating the resilience needed to tackle challenges without giving up. Teachers design learning experiences that stretch students just beyond their comfort zone, building grit and determination across all subjects.

Analytical Thinking

Rather than rote memorization, the curriculum prioritizes deep comprehension and the ability to reason through complex problems. Students are regularly given inquiry-based tasks that require them to evaluate evidence, form hypotheses, and draw independent conclusions — skills directly aligned with the rigor of the Singapore and Cambridge syllabi.

Collaboration and Communication

SIS Myanmar places significant emphasis on cooperative learning. Group projects, presentations, and peer reviews are woven into the school day, reflecting the belief that the ability to work effectively with others — and to communicate clearly — is as important as academic knowledge.

Entrepreneurism

Perhaps the most distinctive element of PACE, the entrepreneurial strand is reflected in dedicated activities such as the Business Club and real-world problem-solving tasks. Students are encouraged to think creatively, take initiative, and see failure as a learning opportunity rather than a setback.

Mission Alignment

The PACE philosophy is directly reflected in the school's officially stated mission: "Our mission is not just to educate but to inspire communities by making quality international education accessible to all." The Head Teacher, John Murphy, has emphasized that SIS Myanmar uses "a variety of international curricula" precisely to give students a strong foundation in these 21st-century competencies while simultaneously developing strong character.

By integrating PACE with the academic rigour of Singapore Mathematics, Cambridge Sciences, and English Language Arts, SIS Myanmar aims to produce graduates who are not only knowledgeable but adaptable, collaborative, and entrepreneurially minded — ready to thrive in a rapidly changing global environment.

The Founding of SIS Myanmar

SIS Myanmar represents a deliberate convergence of global educational expertise and local ambition. The school was established as a joint venture between the SIS Group of Schools — an internationally recognized K–12 school network — and SLG Holdings, a Myanmar investment company led by Ye Wint Aung (William) and Kaung Htet Aung.

The Local Vision

The founding story begins with a recognition of a gap: Myanmar's rapidly developing economy and internationally minded middle class were in need of a school that could deliver genuinely world-class education at accessible price points. Ye Wint Aung and his co-founders spent considerable time researching global educational models before identifying the SIS Group as the ideal partner — an organization with a proven track record of establishing high-quality international schools across Asia and beyond.

The SIS Group Partnership

The SIS Group of Schools was founded by Jaspal Sidhu and has grown into a multinational educational network with campuses across multiple countries. The Group's hallmark is delivering rigorous Singapore and Cambridge curricula while keeping fees more accessible than many traditional international schools. Its model is built on the belief that quality international education should not be the preserve of the elite.

This philosophy resonated strongly with the Myanmar founders. As stated on the school's official website: "Inspired by the needs of Myanmar's youth… [we joined SIS] to bring the world's best curriculum and ensure the success of SIS Myanmar."

Recognition and Growth

The SIS Group's broader educational mission was recognized on the global stage when it won the prestigious 2019 Financial Times / IFC Transformational Business Award for Education in London — an accolade that validates the network's model of accessible, high-quality international schooling.

SIS Myanmar's Thingangyun campus in Yangon currently serves students from Nursery (age 2) through Year 11, with aspirations to expand to include Cambridge A-Level and/or IB Diploma programs as the school's first cohorts progress toward graduation. The campus itself is purpose-built with modern facilities including an aquatic center, multi-purpose hall, and outdoor sports pitches — a tangible symbol of the founders' long-term commitment to the school's future.

SIS Myanmar's Dual-Curriculum Academic Model

One of SIS Myanmar's most distinctive features is its deliberate fusion of two of the world's most respected educational frameworks: the Singapore curriculum at primary level and the Cambridge (IGCSE) curriculum at secondary level.

The Singapore Primary Framework

The Singapore curriculum is internationally renowned for producing some of the world's highest-achieving students, particularly in Mathematics and Science. SIS Myanmar adopts this framework for its Early Years and Primary programmes (Nursery through Year 6), giving young learners a structured, concept-mastery approach to core subjects. Singapore Mathematics, for example, emphasizes problem-solving through model drawing and deep conceptual understanding — skills that provide a strong foundation for later study.

Cambridge IGCSE at Secondary Level

From Year 7 onwards, SIS Myanmar transitions students to the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) framework. IGCSE is recognized by universities and employers worldwide, and offers a broad subject range including English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Humanities, and Languages. Students at SIS Myanmar can study Burmese and Mandarin alongside the standard international subjects, reflecting the local context.

Future Pathways: A-Level and IB

The school has signaled its intention to extend the curriculum into upper secondary with Cambridge A-Levels and/or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) as its pioneer cohorts mature. This will create a full K–12 academic pathway entirely within the SIS Myanmar campus.

Teaching and Assessment

Instruction across all levels is delivered by qualified international faculty, with an emphasis on student-centered, inquiry-based pedagogy aligned with the PACE philosophy. Assessment combines formal examinations (as required by Singapore and Cambridge syllabi) with informal, project-based evaluation. For students who need additional support, the school's Academic Support Program provides individualized tutoring outside of regular class time.

Languages Across the Curriculum

English is the sole medium of instruction for all academic subjects. Burmese is taught as a mother-tongue language subject for all students, and Mandarin is offered as an additional language from the early years — reflecting both the local environment and the school's international orientation. EAL (English as an Additional Language) support is available for students whose English requires development upon entry.

Community Life at SIS Myanmar

SIS Myanmar is a deliberately intimate school. With an enrollment of approximately 120 students across all year groups — from Nursery (age 2) to Year 11 (age ~16) — the school operates at a scale where every student is known personally by their teachers and peers.

A Locally Rooted International School

While the curriculum, faculty, and ethos are firmly international, the student body at SIS Myanmar is predominantly local. The school estimates a 10:1 local-to-international ratio, meaning roughly 90% of students are Myanmar nationals. Approximately 4 nationalities are represented in total, with the international minority drawn primarily from expatriate families based in Yangon.

This demographic profile is deliberate. SIS Myanmar's founding mission is explicitly to make "quality international education accessible to all" — not solely to the expatriate community but to Myanmar families seeking a globally competitive education for their children within their home country.

Small Classes, Close Relationships

Average class sizes of approximately 15 students (with a maximum of 20) ensure that teachers can tailor their approach to individual learners. This low student-to-teacher ratio fosters the close interactions between students and teachers that the school highlights as central to its educational philosophy.

Extracurricular Community Building

Beyond academics, community is built through a rich program of co-curricular activities. The school fields competitive football teams (U14 boys and girls) that have won local SIS tournaments, and offers clubs ranging from Robotics and Business Club to Painting, Ballet, and Karate. A school newsletter — distributed to the community — documents student achievements, club highlights, and community events, reinforcing the sense of shared school identity.

Parent Engagement

The Head Teacher, John Murphy, explicitly emphasizes parent engagement as a cornerstone of the SIS Myanmar experience. Parents are considered partners in education, and the admissions process itself includes a parent interview component, ensuring that families are aligned with the school's values and approach from the outset.

Admissions at SIS Myanmar

SIS Myanmar takes an open and accessible approach to admissions, consistent with its founding mission to make quality international education available to the broadest possible range of families. There are no highly selective entrance examinations; instead, the process is designed to assess fit and readiness in a supportive, conversational way.

The Admissions Journey

Step 1 – School Tour / Inquiry Prospective families are encouraged to visit the campus and meet the team before formally applying. This initial visit allows families to experience the school environment first-hand and ask questions directly of the admissions team.

Step 2 – Document Submission Families submit an enrollment application form along with key documents: a copy of the student's passport and academic transcripts from the last two years of schooling. These documents help the school assess the student's academic background and place them appropriately within the year group structure.

Step 3 – Registration Fee A registration fee is paid at this stage to initiate the formal assessment process (exact amount not publicly disclosed).

Step 4 – Interview All applicants — across all grade levels, from Nursery to Year 11 — are interviewed by the Head Teacher (John Murphy) or a Deputy. The interview assesses the student's readiness for the school's English-medium environment and the family's alignment with SIS Myanmar's values. For families based overseas or unable to visit in person, interviews are conducted via Zoom, making the school genuinely accessible to internationally mobile families.

Step 5 – Uniform Purchase and Fee Payment Upon acceptance, families purchase the SIS Myanmar school uniform and pay tuition and any other applicable fees to secure the student's place.

English Proficiency

Since all instruction is conducted in English, functional English proficiency is an important factor. However, the school offers an EAL (English as an Additional Language) support programme, meaning that students who are not yet fully fluent can still be admitted and supported as they develop their language skills.

Selectivity

SIS Myanmar does not publish acceptance rate data. Given its current enrollment of approximately 120 students and its stated mission of accessibility, the school is likely to have relatively open admissions for students who meet basic age and language criteria, with places available on a rolling basis.