New Bintulu international school best choice for those seeking quality education for their children

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BINTULU: The upcoming Bintulu ELC International School at Kidurong Sentral would become a viable option for the people here, especially expatriates, when it comes to providing high-quality foreign educational programmes for their children.

The joint-venture (JV) between Vital Focus Group and ELC International Sdn Bhd is targeted to take in its first intake on September next year, pending approval from the authority.

“ELC will not only emphasise on academic excellence but also on holistic personal development of each student where their talents will be further enhanced,” Vital Focus Development chief executive officer George Pui spoke at a press conference here yesterday, adding that the official JV signing would be held on Jan 9 at ParkCity Everly Hotel, where it would be witnessed by Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah.

He also said there would be a free special talk cum question-and-answer session on ELC that Friday running from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

“Bintulu ELC International School will be the largest of its kind here and this is one of the initiatives to bring more development to Kidurong Sentral,” Pui said.

Meanwhile VF Capital Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Chia Kah Pheng said the school could receive about 300 students for its first intake, but adding further that the capacity would be gradually increased.

“ELC was established in 1987 and so far, it has two main campuses – one in Sungai Buloh (Selangor) and another in Cyberjaya – which currently house more than 1,000 students,” he said.

According to him, ELC offers classes from Early Years, Reception, Year One to Six (Primary Division) and Year Seven to 11 (Secondary Division), with the curriculum being modelled on the National Curriculum from Britain

“It is something new here, so for the beginning ELC Bintulu will offer Early Years, Reception and the Primary Division classes,” he said, adding that the new establishment here would be the fifth international school in the state after Kuching, which has two, as well as one in Sibu and another in Miri.

“The detailed curriculum (IGCSE/GCSE & GCE) for Year 10 and 11 is prescribed by both Cambridge International Examinations–The University of Cambridge and Edexcel International–London Examinations.”

Kah Pheng also said the setup of ELC International School here was part of the development initiatives within the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

“It is a part of important components towards having a proper educational system especially for the children of expatriates.”

According to Kah Pheng, the objective of ELC is to develop the foundations that will encourage and enable a multi-racial group of children to value responsibility, perseverance, self-discipline and impartiality, as well as for them to seek even higher levels of achievement in their undertakings, particularly in academic performance.

Earlier, Pui briefed the media about the development of Kidurong Sentral which is a mixed development near to Kidurong Industrial Development and the future Eastern Bintulu City expansion areas.

The site is strategically located at the junction of Jalan Tanjung Kidurong and Jalan Bukit Nyabau – a convenient nodal point for all commuters via Bintulu Port and the new SCORE projects in Samalaju – and a mere 10-minute drive from the town centre.

The project, Pui said, would house commercial centres comprising more than 200 shophouses, as well as a shopping mall that also serves as a transportation hub for inter-city and city link bus services.

There would also be a community market, a petrol station, a drive-thru restaurant, 170 proposed semi-detached houses (guarded and gated), as well as 340 proposed double-storey terraced and mixed residential units, he added.

“This project envisions the concept of ‘Live, Work, Learn and Leisure’ for both homebuyers and investors.”

Phase One of the development, which consists of 108 three-storey shophouse units, recorded an overwhelming response from the public since its last pre-launch, with 60 per cent of units have been taken up.

Pu and Kah Pheng were joined by Vital Focus Development general manager Kelvin Chia, PWP Properties (EM) Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Dato’ Seri Charles Voon and PWP Properties (S) Sdn Bhd business development director Annie Bong, at the press conference.