A challenging and rewarding academic curriculum that prepares the students to meet the challenges ahead of them with confidence is one of the key attributes of International School of Kuantan (ISK), which makes it a prominent educational institution in Malaysia.
The school focuses on building the students’ confidence and enhancing their skills so that they can take on any challenge, whether it be at university or as responsible adults.
Established in 1996, ISK is a private international school. It is the only international school in Kuantan that provides quality education to elementary, middle, and high school students based on the curriculum and practices of public and private schools in the United States of America.
English is used as the medium of instruction to prepare students for admission to universities. Graduates of ISK have been accepted to prestigious colleges and universities around the world.
Facilities
ISK offers its graduates an American High School Diploma, fully accredited through the Western Association of Schools and College (WASC). In most cases, graduates with an American High School Diploma, in conjunction with the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), are able to bypass intermediary schooling, such as a foundation year or A-levels. Eventually, they can enter directly into bachelor’s degree programs. Its graduates have successfully gained entrance into prestigious universities in the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Asia.
Vibrant Campus
ISK offers excellent infrastructural facilities and a vivid environment conducive to learning and cooperation. It has an academic building consisting of three floors with classrooms, labs, music room, art room, sickbay, and an office. The cafeteria and multi-purpose hall are located at the back of the academic building. The cafeteria is on the first floor, and the air-conditioned multi-purpose hall is on the second floor.
The classrooms of ISK are equipped with smart boards. The school houses three fully equipped labs with smart boards. It also has two computer labs, which allow the students to use advanced computers with a smart interface to carry out research work for study purposes and different projects.
The air-conditioned multipurpose hall is equipped with three badminton courts, a basketball court, a stage, audio-visual equipment, and dressing rooms with showers. It has a music room with acoustic treatment, which provides students tremendous opportunity to explore their music skills.
ISK has an outdoor sports arena with an all-in-one futsal, volleyball, netball, and tennis court. It also has a stage and audio-visual equipment in the multipurpose hall. Furthermore, the school offers personal locker for each student, library facilities, and a spacious art room for students to express their creativity.
Upholding Excellence in Education
ISK endeavours to provide the best of American and international education for all students, using English as the medium of instruction to prepare students for university. It is driven by the mission to not only provide a comprehensive academic education but also to encourage and challenge all students to reach their full potential. ISK’s vision is to see that all students excel in an environment of high expectations that foster cooperation, tolerance, communication, self-motivation, and love for learning.
The school believes that education is founded upon the acquisition of skills and knowledge at each grade. Accordingly, the academic program at ISK is divided into three divisions:
- Elementary School – Kindergarten and Grades 1 – 5 (Ages 5 – 11 years old)
- Middle School – Grades 6 – 8 (Ages 11 – 14)
- High School – Grades 9 – 12 (Ages 14 – 18)
ISK follows the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) in elementary school. The middle and high schools are based on an American educational model but are enriched to provide an engaging and challenging program for the diverse international student body. From the elementary school to the high school program, ISK faculty employ engaging, research-based instructional methodologies to prepare the students with the necessary skills not only for the university but to become life-long learners.
At ISK elementary school (Kindergarten & Grades 1-5), the major focus is developing well-rounded, independent, and responsible students. Throughout middle and high school, learning is promoted through critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, as well as application of learned knowledge rather than through rote learning.
A Leader with a Vision
ISK has made many noteworthy achievements under the focused and astute leadership of Richard Carroll, the Principal. He hails from Canada and has been in the teaching profession since 1995. Mr. Richard started out in Middle School as a French immersion teacher for Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies in Canada. He then decided to discover the world through his passion for teaching. He has been teaching overseas since 1999 with stops in South Korea, Thailand, Laos, Turkey, Bangladesh, Sudan, and now, Malaysia. Mr. Richard has been a kindergarten, grade 3, grade 4, Mathematics, French, and computing teacher in elementary school throughout his teaching career. In middle school, he taught Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and French. In high school, he taught Mathematics and French.
The Journey of ISK
ISK received a license to start its operations in 1996 from the Ministry of Education Malaysia to Effective Energy Sdn. Bhd. (EESB). It is a private company incorporated with the Registrar of Companies Malaysia.
The school opened on the ground floor of two units of shop lots at A33, Jalan Tanjung Api, Padang Lalang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. It initially had a student body of sixteen students in grades seven through twelve. Four teachers were hired, with three being expatriates.
The first graduating class in June 1999 included three graduates who have all continued their education at the International Islamic University in Malaysia. In 2000, ISK became a candidate for accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC).
The year 2003 saw the school being granted accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC). It saw a 50% increase in enrolment (2009) and expanded to 50 students due to a 40% quota granted to all international schools to allow enrolment of Malaysian students.
In 2010, ISK acquired land to build a new campus for the school to accommodate the growing number of students. Effective from July 1, 2012, the 40% quota for Malaysian students allowed to enrol into international schools was lifted by the Malaysian Government.
Enrolment at ISK increased by 40% to a total of 79 students for the school year 2012-2013. In the same year, the faculty was increased by 50% to accommodate the growing number of students. Simultaneously, it also completed the school design plan to begin the construction of the new campus. In the same year, the construction of the new campus began.
In January 2015, the school moved to a beautiful, new, purpose-built facility at Bandar Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, Pahang Malaysia.
Accreditations of ISK
ISK was granted full accreditation (six years) by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) in 2003.
The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) is one of six regional accrediting associations in the United States. Their accreditation process fosters excellence in elementary, secondary, and adult education by encouraging school improvement. WASC accreditation recognizes schools that meet a level of quality according to established, research-based WASC criteria.
ISK is highly committed to the ongoing ACS WASC quality assurance accreditation process to enhance student learning. The American High School Diploma offered by the school has been officially recognized as equivalent to STPM by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).
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