New Head of School Nel Capadona says: ‘At OSC we teach students to’ think; not what to think

The newly appointed Head of The Overseas School of Colombo (OSC),  Nel Capadona,  said the school’s primary vision is to teach students to freely think at the school and to guide them on what not to think.

 In a candid interview with the Daily Mirror,  Ms. Capadona said building tomorrow’s leaders is their chief goal. 

When Nel Capadona walked into The Overseas School of Colombo (OSC) last July, she brought more than 25 years of international education experience. She brought a question that has shaped her entire career: How do we create spaces where every student feels valued enough to discover who they really are? 

“I’ve worked across Southeast Asia, Europe, the US and the UK,” Nel reflects,  “and what drew me to OSC was this school’s commitment to something rare, being Sri Lanka’s only IB World School isn’t just a credential. It’s a daily practice of teaching students to think, not what to think.”

That distinction matters. While many schools focus on test scores, OSC is building something different. Recently recognised by UNESCO’s Greening Education Partnership as one of only two exemplary Green Schools globally, sustainability here isn’t a subject – it’s a lived experience. 

“You’ll see it in how our students question their own consumption, design solutions to real community problems and understand that their choices ripple outward,” Nel explains.

But perhaps what sets OSC apart most is its approach to learning itself. “In traditional systems, the teacher holds the knowledge. Here, students are agents of their own learning. A Grade 4 class might research ocean plastics and confidently present solutions to our School Board, knowing their voice truly matters. That’s inquiry-based learning in action,” Nel said. 

With teaching staff from 16 countries, OSC’s classrooms reflect the interconnected world students will inherit. “Global diversity isn’t performative here,” Nel noted. “When your math teacher is from India, your art teacher from the U.K. and your classmate’s family just moved in from Japan, you stop seeing differences as foreign. You see it as fundamental.” 

For parents navigating Sri Lanka’s diverse education landscape, Nel’s message is clear: “We’re not preparing students for university alone. We’re preparing them for a world we can’t predict – one that needs critical thinkers, empathetic leaders, and people brave enough to ask better questions.” 

When asked what she hopes her legacy at OSC will be, she said: “I want every student who walks through these gates to leave knowing they were heard, they mattered, and they have the power to shape what comes next. That’s the future worth building.”