The Building of Sultan Iskandar Muda Institution

Front View of a part of main building

Laboratory

Chemical laboratory in Yayasan Sultan Iskandar Muda Medan.

Library

Usually read book habit from young

Wi-fi Launcher

Wi-Fi laucher in YP. Sultan Iskandar Muda by Head Official of Education North Sumatera Province With Head Council of YPSIM

Independence Day Republik Indonesia 64th

Pasukan Pengibar Bendera YPSIM on duty

A Brief History of Sultan Iskandar Muda School

        Twenty-four years ago, a Chinese youth from a village named Sunggal, had a dream. If Martin Luther King in the U.S. dreamed that one day black people could have equal rights with other white men, a dream of this young Chinese man wasthat poor children could attend good quality schools!

    But how could it be,Sofyan? You yourself are poor and the school was built using money from bank loans. Only rich people can realize your dream.

Such responses are often buzzing in his ears. The late Raja Inal Siregar, Sarwono Kusumaatmaja, and Lieutenant General (Ret.) TB Silalahi are a few among many who are pessimistic of Sofyan’s ambition to realise such dream.
This young Chinese Sofyan was none other thandr. Sofyan Tan, the person who held this dream. Despite the pessimism shared by many people around him, the young Sofyan did not give up. Blood just swished his youth, and his emotions overflowed – he was challenged to realise the dreams and doubts of people.

Gradually, the development of this "dream project" began. It started off withSofyan Tan went to a notary office in Medan. He made a notarial document of the establishment of the Foundation of Sultan IskandarMuda School (YayasanPerguruan Sultan IskandarMuda –YPSIM) on 25th August 1987. After the document came out, he contacted some of his closest friends and made negotiations with some building material shops, including builders.

"I am looking for loans and debt of building materials," he said innocently. Almost a year he was struggling to build the school of his dreams. In April 1988, a total of 11 classes for learning and administrative activities of the school were completed.

The school is located in a site, tucked at the end of the Bakul alley, Sunggal Village, Medan.Sultan IskandarMuda School building stands on the paddy field that can no longer be utilised, spanned approximately 1,500 m2.The land was purchased from sellingSofyan’swife jewelleries and wedding gifts. During the operation in 1988/1989, the number of students was 171 people who mostly came from underprivileged families, living around the Sunggal village. The number of teachers was only 15 people and school facilities were still very limited. The library did not exist, let alone laboratory.

Despite being hit by multiple "storms of life", he did not stop fighting. His school was in a huge debt in a private bank.In the first few years, he could not repay the instalment credit – not even the interest of the loan. This situation was expected as the limited educational fees from students were often insufficient to pay teacher salaries and cover operating costs. Teacher salaries were often delayed up to two weeks.

Many students also postponed the payment of their tuition fees. The reasons behind this delay varied – some of these students’ parents suffered long-term illnesses, failed in their businesses, got laid off, etc. Despite these financial issues, Sofyan insisted not to dismiss a student just because their parents suddenly went poor.

Do not cry over poverty
"Do not let poverty hamper children’s rights for education," Sofyan said. Hedoes not want any student cries over their poverty.According to him, storms in lives can be conquered as long as there is a determination to reconcile them!

Being a dreamer like himself, he is blessed by God with lots of creativeideas. To overcome the storm, Sofyan went to a number of businessmen and state officials to seek support for his school that educates poor children so that it could survive. He also came out with a movement to touchthe hearts of philanthropists to become foster parents and help paying school fees for poor students in his school. Some international NGOs that are in line with the vision and mission of the school have given generous donations for the development of facilities and infrastructure of the school, suchas Caritas Switzerland and Pan Eco Foundation.

Twenty-four years since YPSIM was established, on August 25th2011 the dream of Sofyan Tan has finally come true. The Sultan IskandarMudaschool now has two computer laboratories with modern and sophisticated technological devices. Computer room is equipped with internet facilities and audio-visual media. The language laboratory has 68 (sixty eight) units of tape recorders and headsets for the purpose of English, Japanese and Mandarin language practices. The Science laboratories (physics, chemistry and biology) are also equipped with advanced practical tools - inauguration of which was done by Yohanes Surya, one of Indonesianbrilliant physicists, as well as the president of Indonesian Physics Olympiad Team (TOFI).

Other facilities offered in the school include a music room completed with the band equipment, green school canteen offering healthy food with decent price and WIFI facility to make internet accessible to students, a library with a fairly wide range collection of more than 10,000 books and magazines, community-based radio and shuttle bus for students.School buildings are also quite tall, comprising of four floors. YP SIM is currently supported by 126 teaching staffs holding D3, S1 and S2 qualifications and non-teaching staffs. The total number of students in 2011 has reached 2246 , where 204of whom are foster children having free tuition.