The English Speaking Scholastic Association of the River Plate (ESSARP) was originally founded in 1926 as "The British Scholastic Association" to provide a forum for interchange between the heads of the British-type schools in Argentina and Uruguay.
In 1975, the ESSARP Committee found it appropriate to incorporate a much wider range of student activities, such as Art and Drama Festivals, and General Knowledge Competitions, which expanded in time to include Student's Forums, Music & Choir Festivals, Maths competitions, Chess tournaments, etc.
In 1982 ESSARP was invited by UCLES (University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate) to take over the local administration of Cambridge "O" and "A" level examinations, as well as English Language examinations at school level. It then became responsible for the administration of IGCSE examinations, and played a most important part in promoting them. Now, jointly with the Argentina Representative of CIE it is promoting the A and AS Level examinations, the Cambridge International Primary Programme, the Lower Secondary Programme, Vocational Qualifications, and even Computer Based Tests!
In 1984 after a six-week visit, Kenneth Ridley, the Dean of the University College of Ripon St. John's, and Dave Williamson recommended setting up a Teacher's Centre in Buenos Aires.
The Association offers in-service training courses for teachers and heads catering for their needs and requirements at all levels: Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary in both languages: English and Spanish. The courses cover issues related to international exam syllabuses and implementation, literature programmes, methodology, class management skills, content areas and more.
In an attempt to enrich the Course Programme, ESSARP has organized events with other institutions: Words on Words and Reading Groups with the British Council to explore literature genres; an international conference and cutting edge seminars with Universidad de San Andrés (UdeSA), talks on educational matters with Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (UTDT) and Fondo de Cultura Económica, among others.
The Centre has a well-stocked specialist library on education, a video/DVD library, a computer laboratory with Internet access and a permanent exhibition of subjects of cultural interest. For the running of the varied courses, the Centre has state-of-the-art equipment for presentations and workshops: OHP's, digital projectors, an interactive whiteboard, VCR and DVD players, Internet access in all classrooms and a photocopier/network printer.
For further information about the ESSARP courses and its academic events visit the following webpage: http://www.essarp.org.ar/categorias/eng/academic_activities/
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