The Korea Herald

피터빈트

New York-based Dwight School opens in Seoul

By Kim Young-won

Published : Aug. 19, 2012 - 20:31

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Dwight International School Seoul opens on Monday in Sangam, western Seoul, with the aim of improving living conditions for foreign residents and attracting more foreign investment, the city government said.

The campus of the Dwight School, a New York-based private school, will be the fourth international campus of the institute following three others in Vancouver, Beijing and London.

The Seoul campus will offer courses for students in kindergarten through high school.

“The opening of Dwight International School following that of Dulwich College Seoul in Banpo (southern Seoul) in September could encourage more foreign investment in Seoul and make the city an educational hub,” said Kim Myong-joo, director of the support centers for foreigners.

Students with Korean nationality are eligible to enroll in the school only when they have had at least three year’s residence overseas. The proportion of Korean students will be limited to 20 percent or below.

Around 50 teachers from 14 nations will teach 300 students of 25 different nationalities in English. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7 to 1.

The yearly tuition fee cannot exceed 25 million won ($22,000) for three years from the school’s opening, according to the city government.

The city’s 22nd international school has adopted the international baccalaureate, an internationally accredited course, for all grades to ensure the quality and contingency of education.

The school aims to open the Northeastern Asian headquarters of the International Baccalaureate Organization and hold an IB convention in Seoul.

Seoul City has been developing the Sangam district along with the Magok district, both in western Seoul, into business hubs by attracting international research centers and companies.

The Dwight School was founded in 1872 by Julius Sachs, a founder of the College Board, which conducts the scholastic assessment test and advanced placement test in the U.S.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)