Early childhood is a crucial phase of development for children up to six years of age. This is when young learners absorb everything they hear, see, smell and feel around them – this is when the love of learning truly begins.
At the start of this 2018/19 academic school year, Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) further strengthened its resolution to nurture passionate and engaged lifelong learners with the opening of the Early Years Center (EYC) and by welcoming new elementary school principal Maya Rangkuti Nelson.
A former student and teacher at JIS, Nelson returns to the school after more than 30 years working in the field of education across the world. She arrives just in time for the inauguration of the EYC on 25 September 2018.
“The early years are a time that must be honoured and respected. We believe that building a child's cognitive, language, motor, attention and social-emotional development is most critical and builds the foundation for all learning,” Nelson said.
“Play, as an aspect of our early years classes, effectively and positively supports brain development so that each child can fully develop his or her own capacities.”
The new EYC in JIS Elementary School Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, reinforces JIS' early years program by inspiring exploration, investigation and questioning by presenting opportunities for creative and physical play, both indoors and outdoors.
The ecologically designed two-story building houses 12 classrooms and facilities specifically conceived to nurture young learners aged three to six, including an art room, an outdoor reading area, a project space and a dance and movement studio. Students can also explore two Maker Space studios that combine technology and crafts.
“Of most importance is the ability of a facility to create curiosity,” Nelson said. “We wanted a building where children can grow in their independence, go inside and outside, and can find beauty or wonder around any corner.”
In addition to Nelson and JIS Head of School Dr Tarek Razik, Tuesday's inauguration was attended by Jakarta Education Agency (Diknas) Acting Head Bowo Irianto, as well as Ir. Harris Iskandar PhD, the Ministry of Education and Culture's Director General of Early Childhood Education and Community Education.
“This is a momentous occasion for JIS, because the EYC not only reflects the hard work and perseverance of our faculty, but also the ongoing partnership with our host country in the field of education,” Razik says.
“JIS is eager to share this exciting journey with the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as Diknas as we stay committed to sharing our best practices, setting the table for early childhood education and fostering the future leaders of Indonesia.”
Iskandar added: “We hope the EYC will benefit both JIS students and the educational community outside of JIS, particularly by improving the competencies of Indonesia's younger generation – which starts with early childhood education.”