It is the twentieth anniversary of Sekolah Nusa Alam. The school opened its doors for the first time on January 17th 2000. It was established by well-known members of Lombok’s Indonesian and international community: Ace Robin, Sopantini, Peter Cranfield and Mark Heyward.

On the very first day there were only six students. Since then, Sekolah Nusa Alam has grown into a well-established international school. It has been providing international standard schooling to the children of Lombok for twenty years.

‘The aim is to provide an international-standard education for the children of Indonesian and expatriate families in Lombok,’ explained Dra Enny Asmororini, the Kepala Sekolah. ‘We have children from many backgrounds; Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus. We have many nationalities at our school; Koreans, Australians, Dutch, Danish, British, and Indonesians of all sorts: Tionghoa, Javanese, Sasak and Balinese. Families from all over. The beautiful thing is that the children all get along together. Even the different ages mix together: it’s like a big family.’

Sekolah Nusa Alam is a ‘community-based school’. It was established and funded by the community. At the beginning, the school faced major challenges due to civil unrest in Lombok. ‘Riots broke out on the day we opened!’ Ibu Enny explained. ‘By the end of the day most of our families had left the island.’

But with persistence and hard work, the founders continued to develop the school. After twenty years, the school’s achievements are clear. In 2018, the school relocated from the original site in Montong to a brand-new facility at Grand Natura, Jalan Terusan Bung Hatta, Mataram.

‘We were outgrowing the original school buildings,’ explained Dr Heyward, Head of the Board of Trustees. ‘We received an offer from PT Varindo Lombok Inti to build a new school in Mataram. In July 2018, we moved and began classes in the wonderful new facility. In August, along with everyone else, we were hit by the earthquakes. It is a testimony to the strength of the school community and its leadership that we not only survived – but we thrived!’

Sekolah Nusa Alam is accredited by the Government of Indonesia and has an ‘A’ rating at every level: TK, SD, SMP and SMA. It is also the only SPK (Satuan Pendikan Kerjasama) school in Lombok, meaning it is the only school licensed to teach both the national curriculum 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.

‘Sekolah Nusa Alam is unique in Lombok,’ explained the school principal, Katherine Krom. ‘Our children are both happy and successful throughout their journey from play group through to Year 12. The school offers the academically-stimulating International Cambridge Curriculum delivered in English. We provide support for Indonesian children to be able learn in English. Learning in an English language environment, the children pick it up very quickly. The Cambridge program is widely recognised and accepted at universities throughout the world. Sekolah Nusa Alam has earned a reputation for excellence over the last eighteen years. Graduates have gone on to overseas universities, including in the UK, Australia, and America, and to domestic universities. Some have started to build their distinguished careers.’

Plans are now underway to open a technical school, to meet Lombok’s growing need for high-class training in languages (English, Mandarin, Arabic), tourism and hospitality.

Current and former parents, teachers, students and board members gathered together at an event to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the school. Addressing an audience of children, teachers, parents and visiting officials, Dr Heyward said ‘Sekolah Nusa Alam is a community – it is the strength of that community, children, teachers and parents that makes us strong. When everyone helps each other and works together that we can achieve our dreams.’

Ibu Tari, a parent, whose children were enrolled at the school from pre-school up until senior-secondary class, commented. ‘My children have grown and developed into independent, responsible, and respectful young people,’ she said. ‘They have a good attitude and show tolerance towards others, regardless of background. They are collaborative, they have a good mindset and, especially, they have mastery of the English language: they can speak, read and write properly.’

‘Aziz is now doing a double degree in accountancy at UGM. Azka has just completed her exchange program in Poland and Belgium,’ Ibu Tari added.

‘Enrolments are now open for the new school year, commencing July 2020,’ said the Principal ‘Spaces are still available in most classes. Sekolah Nusa Alam welcomes children at any age, from pre-school to senior-secondary.’

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