TIF Highlights: June to August 2025

Quarterly Update

The first semester of the academic year was packed with activities that brought together learning, culture, and community. This was a special period in Bintan, marked by Eid al-Adha and Indonesia’s Independence Day, and we were proud to celebrate with our students, teachers, parents, and local partners.

From welcoming new students into our Learning Centres, to signing MoUs with government offices, to taking part in cultural festivals in Singapore, the past few months have been a rich blend of classroom learning, excursions, and cross-community engagement.

Learning Centres

Learning Centre Highlights

July marked the start of the school year at our Learning Centres. Students kicked off with icebreaker activities, team-building games, and setting class agreements for the year ahead.

In July and August, lessons focused on Understanding Cultural Legacy, with a strong emphasis on maritime culture. Students observed weather and seasonal changes, exploring how these patterns shape local customs and traditions and discovering indigenous knowledge passed down through generations. A highlight of the quarter was stepping into the role of young journalists - creating their own ID cards and conducting interviews with local households to learn first-hand about the rich diversity of ethnic groups in their communities.

Penyengat Trips 

In July, 109 higher-grade students from four Learning Centres travelled to Penyengat Island. Once the seat of the Riau-Lingga Sultanate, Penyengat is often referred to as the spiritual heart of the Malay world. Its mosques, tombs, and historic sites hold deep cultural and historical value.

The trip was designed to extend classroom learning into a real-world setting. Students explored the island’s landmarks, heard stories about its role in governance, literature, and religion, and reflected on how these histories continue to shape Bintan’s identity today. For many, it was their first visit to Penyengat - a powerful experience that brought local heritage vividly to life.

Jong School

One of the highlights of this unit was our annual Jong School. Jongs are traditional model sailing boats, hand-crafted by local artisans and raced in shallow waters along the Bintan coast. For generations, Jong racing has been a beloved pastime for island communities and an important symbol of maritime culture.

In July and August, 55 students from three Learning Centres took part in two Jong School sessions. They learned about the craftsmanship involved in building a Jong, the history of the races, and the cultural values of teamwork and perseverance that underpin the tradition. Students also had the chance to sail Jongs themselves, connecting hands-on play with cultural heritage.

Bintan Bertutour

In August, we launched a new partnership with Bintan Bertutour, a local organisation specialising in cultural heritage tours. Over eight days, 265 students from all Learning Centres joined excursions in Tanjung Pinang, Bintan’s capital.

Through guided walks, students learned about Bintan’s history as a bustling trading hub during the colonial period. They visited markets, coastal settlements, and historic sites, hearing first-hand stories about the daily lives of coastal communities and the economic and cultural exchanges that shaped the island. The tours linked directly to the classroom theme of cultural legacy, helping students see how heritage is embedded in their surroundings.

Teacher Training

Local Teacher Training

Our teacher training program continues to strengthen the quality of education in Bintan. This quarter, we signed new MoUs with local government offices to ensure that our training modules are aligned with new national education standards and policies.

This collaborative approach ensures that our training is not only relevant to teachers’ day-to-day needs, but also recognised as part of Indonesia’s broader education system. By working hand-in-hand with local stakeholders, we’re laying the groundwork for sustainable, high-quality professional development for teachers across the region.

Community Engagement

Parent Info Sessions

Every semester, we host Parent Information Sessions to keep families engaged with their children’s learning journey. In June, 289 parents attended across multiple sessions.

The meetings highlighted classroom activities, learning themes, and student achievements. We also welcomed a guest speaker, who led an interactive workshop on parenting strategies to support children’s education and wellbeing at home. These sessions are an important way to strengthen the home-school connection and ensure parents feel empowered as partners in their children’s learning.

Fun Days

Our ‘Fun Days’ are an opportunity for us to reach beyond our Learning Centres and bring interactive learning to wider communities. Students who are not enrolled in our programs, along with their teachers, join for a day of creative, hands-on activities.

After six Fun Days in May, we hosted three more this quarter which welcomed a further 686 students and 42 teachers.

Hari Orang Pulau in Singapore

In June, we were delighted to be invited to the Hari Orang Pulau (National Islanders’ Day) in Singapore - a celebration honouring the heritage of Indigenous Orang Laut and Orang Pulau communities, whose roots span across the region, including Bintan and the Riau Islands.

Our Executive Director, Courtney, spoke on a panel about how cultural knowledge is woven into our education programs, while our Learning Facilitators demonstrated traditional fishing methods as part of the community showcase.

Events like this highlight the living wisdom of island communities and the importance of celebrating culture as part of who we are today.