Built in 1969, Pakistan Embassy College Beijing (PECB) was the first school in Beijing opened to foreigners. PECB first started off as a school only for Pakistani students whose parents were diplomats working in the embassy. Gradually, as the number of foreign families in Beijing increased, so did the amount of requests received by PECB from parents who wish their children can be a part of this college.
PECB has a long history starting from G. Mustafa Khan, the first principal of the school. At that time, PECB only had 60 Pakistani students who came with their diplomat parents to Beijing. They were taught by teachers hired from Pakistan and were schooled in small rooms in the embassy specially allocated for them. However, when the school officially turned to an international school, PECB added a playground in 1986 to provide the children a safe play area.
As the school continued to expand, the principal decided to build a canteen and gym in 2001. PECB at this time was becoming increasingly popular as more and more expat families arrived in Beijing and needed a place for their children to study. In 2006, a new administration office was built and the school was renovated to provide students a better studying environment.
PECB has since expanded to 400 students from various nationalities all over the world. Today, PECB is divided into two sections – junior and senior. The college has separate biology, chemistry, physics, computer and language labs as well as play areas for juniors and seniors. Many students spend their breaks on the basketball, volleyball or badminton courts. Some students however, prefer the quiet environment in the library or reading room where they can browse through a wide selection of books.
PECB follows the British Cambridge curriculum as well as the Pakistani system and is a registered centre in CIE. The school offers various subjects ranging from O-Level English and IGCSE Science subjects to Pakistan Studies and History. All of PECB’s senior staff hold at least a masters degree in their respective teaching disciplines as well as teaching qualifications. PECB is proud of its teacher–student relationship which gives the whole school a friendly and relaxed environment. Our motto is “It’s a small world – we are a big family!”
Photos by Jun Yu Loh
Jun Wei Loh, 15, is the beijingkids student correspondent for the Pakistan Embassy College of Beijing. She is from Malaysia and is currently doing her O Levels at PECB. Although her favorite subjects are math and physics, she enjoys writing articles and is part of the newsletter editing team in her school. She is also attempting to write a novel and hopes to publish it one day. Her hobbies change from day to day depending on what mood she is in. The three things she wanted to try out one day are: parachuting, bungee jumping and piloting a plane.
The beijingkids student correspondent program gives high school students with an interest in writing and journalism a resource for guidance, feedback, and real-life training.If you are a student interested in becoming a beijingkids student correspondent, or you know a student who is, please contact ellisfriedman@beijing-kids.com
