Athlete Friendly Education Centre

St Joseph’s Institution has been accredited by the World Academy of Sports (WAoS) as an Athlete Friendly Education Centre (AFEC), marking an important milestone in SJI’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the holistic development of all Josephians.

This accreditation enables SJI to further strengthen our support for top-tier student athletes through the introduction of a three-year International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme pathway. Designed for students who are concurrently pursuing high-performance sport, this extended pathway allows them to balance the demands of elite training and competition with the academic rigour of the IBDP.

As an AFEC school, SJI will benefit from a range of support from WAoS, including access to athlete-focused certification and teaching resources, professional development opportunities for staff, tools for individualised planning and workload mapping, and platforms to connect with Olympians and fellow athlete-friendly institutions. These resources will enhance the school’s capacity to provide a well-structured support system for Josephian athletes.

From 2026, SJI will offer the option of a three-year IB Diploma Programme to our nation’s top-tier sports students instead of the usual two years. Our teachers will work closely with these student athletes and their national coaches to develop personalised study plans, ensuring that academic milestones and examination arrangements are carefully aligned with training schedules and competition commitments.

To support continuity of learning, additional teaching and learning resources will be made available, including online learning provisions when students are away from school for training or competitions. A dedicated school personnel will liaise with relevant national sports agencies, regularly reviewing each student’s academic and sporting journey and providing guidance throughout the IB years, including post-SJI aspirations in both university education and sports development.

Through this accreditation, SJI reaffirms its commitment to walking alongside our Josephian athletes as they pursue excellence in both sport and academics, supporting them in navigating the twin rigours of high-performance athletics and the IB with passion, purpose and confidence.