School Guide

Nurturing well-rounded students

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Oct 22, 2020

Many people consider academic achievement to be the most important aspect of a child’s education. The truth is, university admissions tutors and future employers are not only looking for top grades. They want to see evidence of a well-rounded student – someone who can balance rigorous academic study with extra-curricular activities.

Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar’s (KTJ) holistic approach to education allows students to excel in the classroom whilst developing their skills in a range of extra-curricular activities. Students can choose from over 160 co-curricular activities and clubs across primary and secondary, including culinary club, debate union, environmental and sustainability club, and martial arts. Sixth Form students are also provided with specialist support for university applications.

It is these extra-curricular activities that allow students to discover new interests and talents, make friends and develop life skills which will benefit them throughout their life. As KTJ’s Principal, Dr Glenn Moodie, explains: “We instil in our students skills such as adaptability, teamwork, communication, creativity and critical thinking.” KTJ’s emphasis on the importance of ECA helps to nurture balanced and well-rounded individuals who are prepared for a global future.

Another way KTJ nurtures well-rounded students is through the school’s curriculum. KTJ Primary adopts the British National Curriculum for English, mathematics and science, and the International Primary Curriculum for other primary subjects. At the secondary level, students are prepared for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations which are recognised worldwide. KTJ also offers A-Level education, following the British National Curriculum, priming students for the world’s top universities. Each student will be guided into making the right university choices and developing first class applications.

Wendy Jones, the Director of Sixth Form at KTJ, explains: “Universities and employers are looking for well rounded individuals who can offer a broad skill set. These include critical thinking, problem solving, communication, coding, time management, networking, teamwork and adaptability. At KTJ, students have many opportunities to develop such skills through the wide range of extra-curricular activities and leadership opportunities.

In the sixth form, students are expected to take on leadership positions at school, to have a voice, and to participate in sporting and creative activities. They have access to a wide range of academic enrichment activities such as Forensics, Debate Union, moot and engineering competitions; as well as opportunities to learn and develop coding skills, and participate in projects emulating the real world of work- such as the Land Rover 4x4 Challenge. Our Friday night enrichment talks encourage students to think critically about the world and to explore topics that go beyond the confines of an exam syllabus.”

Lebanese American writer and political activist Ameen Rihani was once quoted as saying that "only a well-rounded intellect, a spirit nourished in the eternal sources of intelligence and culture, of justice and wisdom, is a safeguard against both indifference and skepticism". Hence, it's only fitting that KTJ understands the advantages well-rounded students can bring to themselves, their community and the society they live in – guaranteeing them as the main facilitators of the future.

To discover more about KTJ, visit https://www.ktj.edu.my/ or drop an email to registrar@ktj.edu.my or call +606-7582561.