The new purpose-built campus of The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) in Ampang Hilir was officially opened today by: YB Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs Malaysia; YB Dr. Xavier Jayakumar, Minister of Water, Land and Natural Resources Malaysia; and YB Ms. Teo Nie Ching, Deputy Minister of Education Malaysia.
The three Federal Ministers were joined at the ceremony by Encik Ahmad Lotfi bin Zubir, Deputy Director of Private Education, of the Ministry of Education, Malaysia and Encik Hamizar bin Abdul Hadi, Head of the Private Education Sector and Special Education, from the Education Department of the Federal Territory, Kuala Lumpur.
The Grand Opening was attended by more than 600 guests including Malaysian Government officials, dignitaries, ambassadors, representatives of Malaysia’s business community as well as past and present ISKL Board members, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni.
In her official address, the Honorable Ms. Teo Nie Ching, Deputy Minister of Education said, “We applaud all efforts which have taken place over the last several years to bring us to this place today. This hard work will certainly impact young people, from Malaysia and throughout the world for years to come”.
ISKL Board Chair, Ms. Kelly O’Hale said that “ISKL was honored to be joined by Ministers YB Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah, YB Dr. Xavier Jayakumar, and YB Ms. Teo Nie Ching. Their presence at the Official Opening is a testament to the Government’s commitment to making Malaysia a major education hub”.
Ms. O’Hale continued, “Today’s Official Opening ceremony is the culmination of many years of hard work and determination by current and previous Board members, the Head of School, Dr. Norma Hudson, and her predecessors, as well as faculty, staff, and parents. Today we reap the benefits of all those who have worked so tirelessly to create our state-of-the-art learning environment”.
ISKL’s Head of School, Dr. Norma Hudson also added her thanks and recognized the work of ISKL’s Board and all those involved in taking the campus from a vision to reality. “We are indebted to ISKL’s Board members past and present for their foresight and commitment. I also thank the faculty, staff, and parents who have contributed in so many different ways to the research, design, and development of our new campus. Their collective efforts have helped to create an educational environment that encompasses global best practice in creative, collaborative and constructive learning for our 1,700 plus students, from Early Childhood through to High School”.
Mr. Brandon Foo, General Manager of the event’s gold sponsor, Toshiba Tec Malaysia, offered his congratulations noting that “Toshiba Tec Malaysia and ISKL are bonded by a shared belief that innovation and technology are important in shaping the minds of future generations and as such, we are committed to fostering this partnership as learning is a lifelong journey. We congratulate ISKL on the Official Opening of their new campus and are proud to be part of this historic event. ”
Innovation is a key component of the Ampang campus which features the latest in design and technology to stimulate and support student learning and collaboration. Leading-edge facilities include technology and science laboratories, a Performing Arts Centre, indoor and outdoor sports complexes, and an Aquatics Centre featuring learn-to-swim, competition and Olympic-size pools. The campus is also the first school in Malaysia designed to achieve platinum Green Building Index (GBI) status and is a testament to ISKL’s commitment to environmental sustainability which, along with service-learning and philanthropy, underpins its strong values-based education.
Master of Ceremonies, Ms. Ika Muzamal, Class of 2007 was a recipient of ISKL’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Scholarship for Malaysian students. The Scholarship program, approved by the Ministry of Education Malaysia, has been offered since 2002. Each year ISKL offers two Malaysian SPM leavers a scholarship to study the rigorous two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Since its inception, 33 Scholarship recipients have graduated from ISKL and gone on to attend prestigious universities worldwide.
The ceremony included the debut of “Looking Forward, Looking Back”, a work commissioned especially for the occasion by renowned U.S. composer and ISKL artist-in-residence, Scott Hickey. The five-movement piece was performed by ISKL’s High School Symphony Orchestra and Choirs representing High School, Middle School, and Elementary School Divisions.
Picture caption from left: Dr. Norma Hudson, The Honorable Ms. Teo Nie Ching, The Honorable Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah, The Honorable Dr. Xavier Jayakumar and, Ms. Kelly O’Hale.
