Sekolah Global Indo-Asia
Sekolah Global Indo-Asia (SGIA), in Batam (Indonesia), is a Cambridge University Examinations center. The school uses the scope and sequence documents for English, Mathematics and Science from the Cambridge International Primary Programme for children aged 5–11, from the Cambridge Checkpoint Programme for students aged 12–14, and from the Cambridge IGCSE for students aged 14–16. The languages of instruction are both English and Indonesian, with Mandarin being offered as an additional language. Students learn English, Mathematics, Science and several other classes in English, while Indonesian students take required courses such as religion, civics and history in the Indonesian language. The school day begins at 07:30 and finishes at 15:00. After school activities are offered from 15:00 to 16:00.
Campus
SGIA has modern, purpose-built facilities located on half a hectare (1.24 acres). There are currently three sections to the school: an Early Childhood Centre, a Primary building and a temporary Secondary section. The Early Childhood Centre has 8 spacious classrooms, a multi purpose room, a large veranda and playground. This environment is designed for children aged 2–5, and is separate from the rest of the school. The Primary building has 32 classrooms, including music, art, science and IT laboratories, and a library of English-language books. This two-story building has an open air courtyard in the centre. The temporary Secondary facility is on one floor with 12 classrooms, including science and IT laboratories. In addition to 2 soccer fields, the school has a large gymnasium and canteen area, both of which are covered but open to the fresh air.
History
SGIA was founded in 2000 to serve the educational needs of the children of the national and international community living in and around Batam, Indonesia. SGIA is a nonsectarian, non-profit coeducational day school, enrolling students in Pre-School through Grade 12 (from 2 to 18 years of age). It aims to be a caring, secure environment in which students can develop the skills, confidence and creativity that will help them succeed academically.
Primary School
The Primary school has two sections, the Early Childhood Centre and the Primary School. The Early Childhood Centre has two half-day sections for PK, K1 and K2, and classes are offered in the morning or afternoon. The Primary school has two full-day sections for 5-year-olds through grade 5. All Primary students have classes in art, music, physical education and Mandarin. Information technology is taught as part of the classroom instruction. PK through Grade 2 classes have 2 homeroom teachers, one English-speaking teacher and one bilingual (Indonesian/English) teacher. Grades 3-5 have an English speaking homeroom teacher who teaches English, Mathematics and the units of inquiry, which include science and social studies. Other teachers include Indonesian (offered for native and second language speakers), and units of inquiry in Indonesian.
Secondary School
In grades 6 - 10 most subjects are taught in English. Currently, grades 11 & 12 are not offered at SGIA. In grades 6 - 8 students follow the University of Cambridge International Lower Secondary Programme for English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and take the Checkpoint examinations at the end of grade 8.
In grades 9 and 10, students follow the IGCSE curriculum, in subjects such as English (first or second language), Mandarin, Bahasa Indonesia, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Business Studies, Economics, ICT, History, and Global Perspectives. Planning for next year includes a stream-style course selection, and classes in German language and Literature.
In grades 6 and 9, national students receive special preparation for the UAN exams in Matematika and Sains.
The school also offers AS/A Level classes to those who qualify, however currently there is not a demand for the classes, as most students transfer to Singapore to continue studies in junior colleges, or continue at schools with a higher student population.