In 2008, the third branch of the Utama International School was established in Kuala Terengganu. Here Utama Schools originally set up the first Prep School branch, catering for children from 2 to 4 years old.
The influx of local Malaysian students joining international schools gained momentum beginning in 2006, when the Malaysian Government opened the quota allowing local students to join the International schools, such as Utama International School Kuala Terengganu.
Now, Utama International School Kuala Terengganu offers an international education as well, to children up to 12 years old or Year 6. UIS follows the Cambridge International Examination curriculum at both Primary and Secondary levels. This results in formal qualifications under the Cambridge International Examination (CIE) board.
Cambridge qualifications are recognised throughout the world and are highly valued by further educational institutes, universities, and employers. Cambridge programmes prepare students for life, helping them to develop an informed curiosity and lasting passion for learning.
At the Cambridge Primary (Year 1 – Year 6) stages, students develop skills and understanding in English, Mathematics, Science as well as in a variety of elective subjects. Teachers regularly hold student progression tests to determine student understanding and to monitor progress. A range of differentiation techniques are put into action by educators to ensure that students are engaged in each lesson.
After Year 6, the pupils will enter the Cambridge Secondary 1 programme for students in Year 7 to Year 9. Cambridge Secondary 1 is a flexible curriculum with an integrated assessment. CIE provides the syllabus frameworks for English, Mathematics and Science- and thus supplying a clearly defined teaching structure. Cambridge checkpoint tests are also used to monitor learners understanding of both lessons and of individual subject contents, and evaluate the students’ readiness for the next stage of education.
UIS has a sister school at certain campuses which follows the Malaysian National curriculum, known as Sekolah Sri Utama. Sekolah Sri Utama is a co-educational institute approved and recognized by the Malaysian Ministry of Education for both secondary and primary schools.
Parents who are interested in their children going to a local school with the local curriculum and local language in the city of Kuala Terengganu, can elect for the Sekolah Sri Utama option. In accordance with the Ministry of Education’s “Empowering Bahasa Malaysia and Strengthening English” policy, the Dual Language Programme (DLP) was initiated at selected Malaysian primary and secondary national / private schools in 2016. A total of 300 schools across Malaysia, including Sekolah Sri Utama, are now qualified to offer the DLP pilot programme.
This programme enables Sekolah Sri Utama to offer Science and Mathematics with English as the medium of instruction. This programme is currently being offered to Primary 1, Primary 4, and Form 1 students (selected campuses). The Dual Language Programme provides students with the opportunity to enhance their English language proficiency.
Utama International School Kuala Terengganu offers well-equipped learning facilities. Classes are conducted in separate facilities for International and National students. However, both of these groups can meet in the common areas such as a multi-purpose assembly area, canteen and sporting facilities such as football and futsal fields, swimming pools and basketball courts. The sporting facilities are critical to the students’ social growth and peer bonding, in that they promote a sense of community.
JKR 333 and JKR 334, Jalan Sultan Mahmud, 20400 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
Congratulation!