As IB World Schools In São Paulo, Lisbon And Maputo: Growth And Diversification Of The Field

Abstract

The article analyzes the recent expansion of international schools, with a focus on educational establishments that provide International Baccalaureate® (IB) curricula and exams, based on three intersecting axes of study. First, it seeks to map the research produced on this movement, at an international level. Second, the evolution of the number of schools and students in the world is discussed, with particular attention to the trends observed in Portuguese-speaking and Latin American countries. Third, results of a documentary analysis on IB schools in the regions of São Paulo, Lisbon and Maputo are presented, focused on their institutional missions and visions. In addition to less expression, compared to Spanish-speaking countries, it is concluded that the growth of IB schools in metropolises with the official Portuguese language has been fueled by both the conversion of the traditional international school model and the emergence of business projects. specialized in this type of schools. The narrative of academic excellence and the formation of global leaders has become hegemonic. There are similarities, but also differences between the IB schools in these three cities, which we relate to their respective contexts.