It’s ‘back to school’ for Sekolah Nusa Alam students in January 2021 – and the smiles on the faces of children, teachers and parents say it all.

Schools have been closed in Lombok since the government imposed COVID-19 restrictions in April 2020. For nine months, classes have been held over the internet and in the homes of teachers and families. Now schools are allowed to reopen on the island – with COVID-19 protections in place.

Learning from home

Across the world, governments and education specialists are worried that a generation of children will have missed up to one year’s schooling as a result of the pandemic. The good news is that, while remote learning is never the same as face-to-face classes, Sekolah Nusa Alam has continued to provide individualized and group instruction throughout the closure.

When COVID-19 arrived in Lombok in March, teachers immediately made preparations to go online. And when class resumed for the final term after the March 2020 break, it was virtual. The creativity and hard work of teachers, parents and children ensured that the learning continued. Daily exercise and sport classes took place in lounge rooms and backyards across Mataram and West Lombok, academic lessons were held on Google Meet, assignments were submitted and marked online, art and science activities were in the kitchen, and individual coaching and counselling took place on WhatsApp or in occasional house visits. Tests and exams were held on the internet, and some classes even went on a virtual camp – with tents erected in backyards and activities coordinated over the internet.

Accreditation

The school was recently re-accredited by Cambridge International and by the Indonesian Government as an ‘international school’ (known in Indonesia as Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama, or SPK). Established in January 2000, Sekolah Nusa Alam is the only SPK school in Lombok. This means it is the only school licensed to teach both a national and an international curriculum. Sekolah Nusa Alam is also the only school on the island that is licensed to teach the Cambridge International curriculum, ranging from early childhood to secondary levels, and is an Accredited Testing Centre for Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) in Year 10.

Reopening

‘Sekolah Nusa Alam is committed to reopening our school and providing students with opportunities to learn in face-to-face classes on site as soon as it is deemed safe to do so,’ explained Peter Greener, who was appointed school principal in July 2020. Peter, who was previously Principal of Siem Reap International School in Cambodia, has a long history of teaching and school leadership in Indonesia.

‘The safety and well-being of our community is at the forefront of all of our decisions,’ he stressed. ‘The leadership team planned for a safe return to campus that prioritizes the health and safety of our community. A COVID-19 protocol for our school outlines the steps that ensure we minimize the risk of infection.’

A week-long simulation of face-to-face learning was conducted in December 2020, and on Monday 18th January, the school reopened. Face-to-face lessons now run from 09:00 to 12:00. Government regulations limit contact teaching to three hours. Teachers continue online learning in the afternoon session.

‘Although the government considers it safe for students to return to school, we understand that some families are not yet comfortable with this,’ Peter explained. ‘Lesson outlines and learning resources including videos, reading material and interactive activities are still available on the student’s Google Classroom learning platform. Teachers contact students learning at home in the afternoons for one-on-one instruction.’

Enrolments

From July 2018, Sekolah Nusa Alam has been located in a new purpose-built campus in Gegutu in Mataram. The state-of-the-art facility was completed by PT Varindo Lombok Inti in June 2018, just in time for the new school year. The four-story building has 17 learning spaces and a total floor space of approximately 2,500 m2. It includes specialized music and early childhood spaces, a rooftop recreation area for senior students, a grassed playground area and a covered sports area suitable for basketball, badminton and futsal.

Since moving to the city, the school has survived the earthquakes of 2018, and the pandemic of 2020. ‘Not only have we survived, we have thrived,’ said Dr Sopantini, Head of the Board of Management and one of the school’s founders. ‘It is the strength of our school community that makes the difference,’ she added. ‘Sekolah Nusa Alam caters for both Indonesian and expatriate children. We focus on academic achievement, English language and a well-rounded international education. Our location is convenient for children in the city of Mataram. A daily bus service provides transport for children from West Lombok.’

‘We expect a growth in enrolments this year,’ Peter explained. ‘The Lombok economy suffered from the earthquakes and now the pandemic, but our numbers are strong. We still have places available for children in primary and secondary classes, and also in playgroups. To help families during this difficult time we are offering discounts of up to 20 per cent. We encourage interested families to inquire or come and visit us to discuss their child’s future.’

More information on Sekolah Nusa Alam is available online at https://www.nusaalam.sch.id/ or follow the school on FaceBook.

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