Duration
2 years
Level
Standard
About the SSST pathway
Admissions processOverview
We’re delighted to now offer IB DP School-Supported Self-Taught (SSST) Language A: Literature through Pamoja’s trusted online platform – opening the door to high-quality, flexible support for students studying in their mother tongue.
Designed for success
This service helps schools provide a consistent, high-quality SSST pathway – a reliable alternative to ad hoc solutions or informal support arrangements.
Whether you’re a large international school or a small team supporting a single student, we’re here to help make it work.
Helping schools champion language and identity
As educators, we know how powerful it is when a student gets to study in their mother tongue – the impact on confidence, engagement and academic success is clear. Yet we also know that many schools struggle to support SSST students due to timetabling pressures or difficulty sourcing teachers.
That’s where Pamoja comes in.
With Pamoja Self-Taught Languages, your students don’t just get access to an online course – they join a structured, supportive learning experience, guided by a specialist teacher who understands both the IB framework and the value of mother-tongue instruction.
It’s a solution that empowers schools and honours the linguistic and cultural identity of every learner.
How it works
A structured, student-led journey with expert support
Pamoja’s SSST Language A: Literature programme is designed for IB Diploma students whose mother tongue isn’t offered at their school. Delivered entirely online and approved by the IB, this course offers a flexible yet structured path through the Language A syllabus — guided by a dedicated Pamoja teacher.
SSST languages we support
We support students studying SSST Language A: Literature in a wide range of mother tongue languages.
If your required language isn’t already part of our network, don’t worry – we are committed to sourcing a qualified SSST teacher for each student, regardless of language.
Our global educator network includes experienced IB-trained mother tongue teachers from around the world, including speakers of less commonly taught languages. We are continually expanding our teacher base to meet demand, and we welcome enquiries in any language.
If you have a specific language in mind, please get in touch, we’ll do everything we can to support your student.
Please note that the list of languages below is illustrative rather than exhaustive, and may change depending on class sizes and teacher availability.
- Mandarin
- Russian
- French
- Korean
- Spanish
- Arabic
- Japanese
- Dutch
- Italian
- Portuguese
- Norwegian
- Ukrainian
- German
- Hebrew
Here’s what the journey looks like:
Interested?
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Testimonials
What our schools say about us
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"The International School of WA is delighted to continue to work with Pamoja, who has supported us in providing a wide range of subjects for our International Baccalaureate students."
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"Pamoja has expanded our subject offerings with programs we couldn’t provide in-house, giving our students valuable opportunities through a reliable and trusted partner."
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"Heidelberg International School has proudly partnered with Pamoja since 2010, enabling us to offer IB subjects beyond our own curriculum and expanding our students’ choices; their teachers bring a vital human connection to online learning, and our students have consistently achieved excellent results through this collaboration."
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"Chatsworth is very pleased to be able to broaden the range of IB Diploma Programme subjects we can offer through our partnership with Pamoja. Knowing the students are taught and assessed by experienced IBDP teachers gives us the confidence to offer this opportunity."
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"Pamoja teachers are fully supportive of the diverse stresses and schedules students face. Learning to proactively and professionally communicate is arguably the most important learning outcome for Pamoja students."
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"Pamoja opens doors for our students to pursue subjects they are passionate about, helping them thrive in areas otherwise out of reach. The team’s support and clear communication make the experience smooth and impactful for everyone."
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"Ermitage International School of Paris is proud to collaborate with PAMOJA. The consistently high-quality and well-structured courses PAMOJA provides play a key role in helping our students pursue their ideal path toward the IB Diploma."
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"Pamoja has been extremely responsive and professional in our partnership. They have helped us to support students in a variety of situations, including those who have transferred in the middle of the IB Diploma, who have scheduling conflicts, or who have strong desire to study a course that we do not offer."
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"Pamoja online courses allow us to expand the range of subjects offered to our students enabling them to pursue subjects they are passionate about that are not currently available within our timetable. The courses also help foster independent learning; an invaluable skill helping students flourish as lifelong learners."
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"Pamoja has enabled us to broaden our subject option choices and provide invaluable support for Extended Essay supervision in popular subjects. As a result, our students have been able to select an individualised course profile which would not have been possible otherwise."
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"Pamoja has been a wonderful opportunity for our students to pursue passions and interests that we can’t offer as a small school. We have found the teachers to be consistently dedicated and support team to always respond with a human touch!"
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"Our partnership with Pamoja provides students with access to a wide range of IB subjects, ensuring greater academic breadth and choice. The online nature of these courses offers the flexibility our student-athletes need to pursue their studies effectively, even while away training or competing."
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"Pamoja has enabled us to expand our subject offerings to better address our students' language acquisition needs. Their highly responsive and accommodating teachers made us feel supported every step of the way."
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"For a school like ours, which is intentionally 'small by design,' Pamoja provides essential strategic flexibility. It allows us to supplement our DP course offerings, ensuring students interested in specialized or low-enrollment subjects can pursue their pre-university plans."
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The variety of subjects offered really allows the school to offer individual pathways for a wide range of students. Students completing a course on Pamoja strengthen the ATL of self-management and are ready for the next steps in life - university or employment.
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Pamoja unlocks opportunities for our students to pursue their passions beyond our high school's course catalog, opening doors to subjects like Economics and Psychology that would otherwise be unavailable to them.
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“Partnering with Pamoja has given our students greater flexibility in shaping their Diploma Programme journey. We value the supportive collaboration that allows us to broaden our course offering and meet diverse student needs.”
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"Working with Pamoja has been a transformative experience, offering quick, responsive service and a student-centred approach that prioritises individual needs and supports success in the IB DP subject."
Frequently asked questions
As a school how do I register my student(s)?
To enrol your students, please get in touch with us using our contact form.
Will additional resources need to be purchased by the school/student?
For SSST Literature A, students are required to read a selection of texts. The choice of texts should be a collaboration between the student and the Teacher, who will ensure that the selection meets IB criteria and is suitable. The text list must also be discussed with the school. While many resources are available as Open Source online books and texts, there might be cases where purchases are necessary, and the responsibility for these purchases lies with either the student or the school.
When can we access this service?
This service was launched in September 2025, and is available now!
How do you ensure safeguarding?
Pamoja is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of all students. We maintain rigorous policies and procedures to create a safe online learning environment. You can read more in our Safeguarding Policy.
Are there any technical requirements?
For full details on the devices, software, and internet connection needed to access our courses, please refer to our Technical Requirements document in the Resource Library.