Indonesia
Learn for Life at Sekolah Ciputra
There are 4000 schools in the world that apply the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. Sekolah Ciputra is the one out of only 240 schools that provides holistic sustainable programs, from early age to mid high.
Sekolah Ciputra has been operational since 1996 in CitraLand area, Surabaya. It starts with the will of property businessman Dr (HC) Ir Ciputra to build an independent neighborhood in Surabaya. Pak Ci -Ciputra’s nick name- does more than building residential, but also school, hospital, commercial district, recreation center, fitness and restaurant within the area to meet people’s need. When Sekolah Ciputra opens, Pak Ci himself is there for the inauguration.
Sekolah Ciputra applies IB curriculum from Geneva, Switzerland. This is an advantage no other international school in Surabaya has. IB is internationally acknowledged qualification. The curriculum is designed to prepare student for going to college at high end universities around the world. The top universities offer credits for those who gain high scores in IB test. It means that they can graduate faster than normal college students because they don’t need to take pre-university class anymore.
The process for IB status is a long run. Aside than the interviews, site visits and others, school is also strictly evaluated. IB program encourages students to become inquirers and active learners.
It puts more weigh on the process of education for life instead of grade. Students will become individuals who care for the environment and appreciate differences. Pak Ci believes, education is the key for the future of the nation.
“Our children and their children are the future and hope of the developing world. A world full of challenges. It is our responsibility to provide them with the best education possible. My personal experience is proof that a good education is the best way to raise the dignity and well being of individuals, families and the nation,” said Pak Ci in an occasion.
Students of Sekolah Ciputra has tons of achievements both academic and non academic. The regular is to win the robotic competition at either national or international level. In academic, there are many Elementary to High School students who achieve perfect score in National Exam (Unas) for Math, English and Science. Two years ago, the school under Ciputra Education Foundation gained the highest Unas score in Eastern Java for Social Science (IPS) class.
Sekolah Ciputra offers three years scholarship for Mid and High School. The program is open for both students of Ciputra and from other school. “Every year we give scholarship for eight students. It is purely academic. They need to take several stages of strict test,” Cornelia Nathalie, Manager Marketing and Communications Department of Sekolah Ciputra, reveals.
For Elementary School which is now led by Gatut Samuel, the number of students are 435. Most of them are domestic. About five percents of that number are people from India, Korea, United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia. Most of Sekolah Ciputra’s teachers are locals too. Expatriate teachers only handle literature or English class.
The medium language is English, but Bahasa Indonesia and Mandarin are still applied. For Students Interest Group (SIG) or extracurricular, students are free to choose the sport (basketball, swimming, futsal, football, karate, taekwondo, cheers), art (music, scrapbook) and cooking.
Sekolah Ciputra, An International and IB World School (www.sekolahciputra.sch.id)
Puri Widya Kencana, CitraLand, Surabaya 60213-Indonesia
Phone: +62 31 741 5018, Fax: +62 31 741 5016
E-mail: info-sc@sekolahciputra.sch.id
HAFIDA INDRAWATI
PHOTO: SEKOLAH CIPUTRA
