“To be the master of knowledge it is necessary to be a slave to work.”

Honoré de Balzac (French novelist)

Debates on the concept of “quality”, which have made their mark on the business world over the last 20 years, have found their conclusion in institutions that define and test "international standards". Knowing that there is such an international authority for educational institutions is of great comfort to parents. This authority is the Council of International Schools (CIS).

CIS is an internationally respected institution that assesses whether education at elementary and high school level meets the quality standards determined by the council itself. The council assesses member schools according to international quality standards. Schools that meet the criteria receive a accreditation status.

Receiving accreditation is a long process, requiring a great deal of hard work by the schools. On 25 January 2008, Üsküdar SEV Schools was deemed deserving of accrediation status, proving that the education provided meets international quality standards. Our school is reaccredited in June, 2019. CIS pays regular visits to accredited schools to again verify that the quality of education meets the defined standards. What makes CIS important in the world of education is not just that it pushes schools to attain quality standards but that it aims to make this a continuous process.

The Aim of CIS Accreditation

• To ensure that the school aims for perfection at all stages of education.
• To guarantee a high-quality education program through clearly defined objectives and standards.
• To ensure that the school is aware of its strengths and weaknesses and makes up for its shortcomings through continuous development.
• To enable schools to test themselves globally through comparisons with similar schools throughout the world.

Contribution to School Development:

• Being accredited creates a positive academic reputation for the school, both nationally and internationally.
• The self-assessment report that is meticulously prepared during the accreditation process makes an important contribution to the school’s development.
• The accreditation process strengthens the cooperation and communication between the various departments in the school.
• An objective evaluations carried out by an external institution brings many useful and constructive suggestions for development.
• Every member of the school questions and evaluates themselves and the school. They recognize weaknesses and mistakes and work towards overcoming them.
• The accreditation process provides an opportunity to communicate with other schools throughout the world.
• Following the self-study and observation visit that are part of the accreditation process, the school can make long-term plans for the future based on the CIS reports. Services provided by the school are carried out to high standards.

   In accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Council of International Schools Child Protection standards, the SEV Foundation is committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of students in all SEV schools through the establishment and implementation of a comprehensive Child Protection Policy. Our Child Protection Policy applies to all SEV community as well as stakeholders including third-party contractors.