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Volume 24 No. 3 | Spring 2014
environment of the school.
“It is beautiful also, because there are a lot of trees and
flowers in the school compound.”
Fr Marsel says the facilities and infrastructure of St
Ignatius are crucial to supporting the good quality
education provided by the school.
The school has 25 class rooms, a science lab, music room,
new library, and administration centre. It also features a
soccer field, basketball court and volleyball court.
“All the facilities and infrastructure are very helpful in
building up the school education system,” he says.
“Every student should make use of all the facilities to
build up their self knowledge and skills in every area.”
In the future, when funds become available, St Ignatius
school hopes to build a language laboratory, to help
students with languages, especially English, following
damage to their old language lab.
Fr Marsel says the curriculum taught at St Ignatius High
School follows the government’s education syllabus, but
also includes added features.
“As a Catholic school, we also implement Catholic values
in our school,” he says.
“We also have good quality, qualified teachers, who
achieve good results with their students, which is widely
recognised in our region, and students who fail are
encouraged to take remedial lessons to bring them up to
the necessary level.”
Consequently, students come to St Ignatius high school
not only from the local West Manggarai/West Flores
region, but from other areas as well, including from
Central and East Manggarai, Ngada, Ende, Sikka, East
Flores, Sumba, Kupang Timor, and Papua.
“Our school is really open and welcoming to all students
from other regions, including those of different religious
and cultural background,” says Fr Marsel.
The student body is made up not only of Catholics, but
also Protestants, Muslims and Hindus.
Apart from the regular curriculum, students at St
Ignatius High School also have opportunities to take
part in a range of extra-curricula activities, including
Indonesian and English debates, Science Olympics, sports
competitions, a clean environment contest, and cultural
competitions.
Of extreme importance for the school is the spiritual life
of students.
“As a Catholic school, we really try to build up the
spiritual life for every student,” Fr Marsel says.
“There are a lot of spiritual programs which help
strengthen students’ spiritual lives, such as days of
recollection, retreats, sharing opportunities, Bible quizzes,
Bible reading and the regular celebration of Mass.”
Fr Marsel says the school is a fine example of the Ruteng
Province’s mission statement, which has a large focus on
the pastoral field of Education.
