OUR STORY
Cikal is a community of lifelong learners you can trust to help your children succeed beyond school. Here, your children can learn, play, and grow in a safe and happy environment. Since 1999, under the leadership of Najelaa Shihab and Dewi Soeharto, and supported by Yayasan Cinta Keluarga and PT Cita Sarana Utama, we have grown with the belief that the future belongs to a great young generation ready to lead and build a harmonious society. As the institution continues to develop, our commitment remains focused on addressing each student’s learning needs. Reflective practice is considered essential to ensuring that every student engages in a meaningful educational experience. Through the Cikal Ways of Learning, referred to as the 5Cs, students strive to achieve Cikal’s vision and the 5 Stars Competencies. We will continue transforming beyond the conventional definition of schooling, and we are sure that the implementation of our personalised curriculum for every single one of our students, our competencies-based digitally integrated curriculum for all levels, will be even more fun and meaningful.
CIKAL AS COMMUNITY OF LIFELONG LEARNERS
Known as the Community of Lifelong Learners, Cikal established and collaborated with various educational and learning communities (for parents, students, and teachers) across Indonesia. All these innovations and contributions support us in developing more pleasant and meaningful learning experiences for future generations. Here are Cikal community networks,
Yayasan Guru Belajar (@yayasangurubelajar), Kampus Pemimpin Merdeka (@kampurpemimpinmerdeka), Guru Belajar.org (@gurubelajarorg) Kampus Guru Cikal (@kampusgurucikal) Teach First Indonesia (@TeachFirstIndonesia)
Our Vision and Mission
Cikal deepened and refined its core framework with a portrait of a "House." This portrait represents Cikal as an educational ecosystem built on commitment, foundations, continuity, and unity. Within this educational ecosystem, Cikal believes talents and systems evolve together to make a difference by developing our 5 Stars competencies.
(Cikal Framework, 2026)
The House Portrait, which forms the basic concept of Cikal's framework for human and system development, is illustrated by the presence of:
A "Roof" that perpetuates Cikal's main Vision as the ultimate goal: "A community of lifelong learners, cooperating to make a difference by developing our 5 Stars Competencies."
Next is the "middle part of the house," shown as an infinity symbol that signifies Cikal's mission of continuous, sustainable talent and system development. The foundation or support of the house is Cikal Ways, known as the 5 Cs, which support Cikal's ways toward its goals and drive the continuity of the two wheels at the core of the house. The House Portrait, the updated visualisation of Cikal's Framework, does not simply illustrate a house as a physical residence. It also conveys a safe space to grow, learn, and develop together with a warm community where members feel ownership and mutual support. The "House" fosters Cikal's commitment as an educational institution and lifelong learning community that continuously evolves to develop talent and improve the quality of its education system. To better understand the Cikal Framework, below is a more detailed explanation of the Cikal Framework: The roof of the Cikal Framework is Cikal's vision itself: "A community of lifelong learners, cooperating to make a difference by developing our 5 Stars Competencies." Three key aspects in this phrase are: A community of lifelong learners: Every individual shares the same vision to keep learning throughout life, without limits or end. Cooperating to make a difference: Working together to create a positive impact, positive contributions to life, to others, to the world. Developing our 5 Stars competencies: Cikal develops the 5 Stars Competencies curriculum as a reference for individual self-development within the community to achieve their goals. Cikal, as a community and educational institution, believes that talent and system growth are always ongoing. Well-developed talents will be continuously affected by the development of a better system. The two continuously moving wheels consist of Talent Growth and System Growth. These two wheels represent a learning ecosystem, an educational institution, and a lifelong learning community like Cikal, which grows together—not alone—from the diverse individuals within (students, teachers, parents, and CTM) to the system that encompasses them.THE EXPLANATION OF THE CIKAL FRAMEWORK
THE ROOF FOR THE CIKAL’S VISION
THE CORE OF THE HOUSE IS TALENT & SYSTEM GROWTH INFINITY WHEELS
TALENT GROWTH
Talent Growth is not just a map for understanding Cikal's curriculum, but also reflects a commitment to building an educational ecosystem that shapes each talent's abilities for life, helps them discover and develop their unique potential, and encourages empowerment.
(Cikal Talent Growth, 2026)
Talent Growth covers five key, integrated elements:
The Cikal Curriculum
Cikal 5 Stars Competencies, which form the foundation of Cikal's steps to prepare each individual to live and grow into their best version.
Two Aspects of Individual Development
Competence (abilities that anyone can develop) and potential (unique abilities within each student, from intrinsic motivation, personality, and cognitive skills).
Cikal's Learning Design
A meaningful learning experience encourages each student to become their best self.
Cikal Personalised Programs
Cikal believes personalised programs aligned with each student's interests, talents, and potential will connect them to family, community, and a broader ecosystem.
Cikal Learning Outcomes
Cikal applies development, delivery, and assessment as steps to reflect the results of efforts to develop talent.
SYSTEM GROWTH
In addition to developing talent, system growth shows that Cikal is working as both an institution and a community to strengthen its vision of empowerment and make a positive difference in the wider community.
(Cikal System Growth, 2026)
The system wheel integrates three scopes:
Cikal's vision to become a community with a wider impact.
Two key aspects to strengthen: the foundation (vision, mission, and values) and the developed capabilities (leadership, strategy, technology).
System approaches for continuous growth at Cikal, starting from reflection, driving innovation, integrating ideas, and maintaining good practices to be continually reflected upon for improvement
THE FOUNDATION IS CIKAL WAYS (5CS)
To achieve Cikal's main vision and drive the two continuous wheels in the Cikal Framework, Cikal has a fundamental support or foundation: Cikal Ways (5 Cs) as steps or an approach to strengthen, drive, and carry out the series of actions to achieve Cikal's goals as an educational institution and lifelong learning community.
The 5Cs of Cikal Ways are Compassionate Connection, Comprehensive Concept, Challenging Choices, Community Context, and Constructive Continuity.
Here is an overview of Cikal Ways as the basic foundation for every interaction, approach, and collaboration at Cikal:
Compassionate Connection
The Cikal educational ecosystem always focuses on building positive relationships. This includes empathy, identifying student profiles and learning needs, and more.
Comprehensive Concept
Everyone in the ecosystem—students, teachers, team members, parents—strives to understand the reasons behind learning, working, and building meaningful interactions, which encourage individuals to strategise and deepen their development.
Challenging Choices
In Cikal’s learning ecosystem, everyone has the right to choose their interests and potential for growth, as well as actions, challenges, and solutions to be presented. This approach strengthens individual self-development as ever-growing talents.
Community Context
The Cikal community always utilises real-life context in the learning process, interactions and actions aligning with real-world conditions.
Constructive Continuity
This approach encourages every community member to continue their self-development on a wider scale, aiming to reach a broader community.
Ultimately, the development and refinement of Cikal’s Framework as an institution and community marks Cikal’s unified commitment to nurturing the best talents—from students, teachers, parents, to team members—who not only grow to become their best versions but also make an impact on their environment, as reflected in Cikal’s vision.
Over the long term, nurturing talent builds the foundation for real, lasting change. But Cikal can't do this alone—it takes all of us working together to make it happen. A better world isn't just designed—it's grown by people who care. Together, we can shape an environment that helps every single child thrive. This is Cikal's purpose: to make a difference. It is a profound change that makes a real, human impact on the world.
The Cikal Curriculum
Two Aspects of Individual Development
Cikal's Learning Design
Cikal Personalised Programs
Cikal Learning Outcomes
SYSTEM GROWTH
In addition to developing talent, system growth shows that Cikal is working as both an institution and a community to strengthen its vision of empowerment and make a positive difference in the wider community.
Cikal's vision to become a community with a wider impact.
Two key aspects to strengthen: the foundation (vision, mission, and values) and the developed capabilities (leadership, strategy, technology).
System approaches for continuous growth at Cikal, starting from reflection, driving innovation, integrating ideas, and maintaining good practices to be continually reflected upon for improvement
THE FOUNDATION IS CIKAL WAYS (5CS)
To achieve Cikal's main vision and drive the two continuous wheels in the Cikal Framework, Cikal has a fundamental support or foundation: Cikal Ways (5 Cs) as steps or an approach to strengthen, drive, and carry out the series of actions to achieve Cikal's goals as an educational institution and lifelong learning community.
The 5Cs of Cikal Ways are Compassionate Connection, Comprehensive Concept, Challenging Choices, Community Context, and Constructive Continuity.
Here is an overview of Cikal Ways as the basic foundation for every interaction, approach, and collaboration at Cikal:
Compassionate Connection
The Cikal educational ecosystem always focuses on building positive relationships. This includes empathy, identifying student profiles and learning needs, and more.
Comprehensive Concept
Everyone in the ecosystem—students, teachers, team members, parents—strives to understand the reasons behind learning, working, and building meaningful interactions, which encourage individuals to strategise and deepen their development.
Challenging Choices
In Cikal’s learning ecosystem, everyone has the right to choose their interests and potential for growth, as well as actions, challenges, and solutions to be presented. This approach strengthens individual self-development as ever-growing talents.
Community Context
The Cikal community always utilises real-life context in the learning process, interactions and actions aligning with real-world conditions.
Constructive Continuity
This approach encourages every community member to continue their self-development on a wider scale, aiming to reach a broader community.
Ultimately, the development and refinement of Cikal’s Framework as an institution and community marks Cikal’s unified commitment to nurturing the best talents—from students, teachers, parents, to team members—who not only grow to become their best versions but also make an impact on their environment, as reflected in Cikal’s vision.
Over the long term, nurturing talent builds the foundation for real, lasting change. But Cikal can't do this alone—it takes all of us working together to make it happen. A better world isn't just designed—it's grown by people who care. Together, we can shape an environment that helps every single child thrive. This is Cikal's purpose: to make a difference. It is a profound change that makes a real, human impact on the world.
CIKAL CURRICULUM CIRCLE
Cikal 5 Stars Curriculum Circle, “CCC”, is the name of Cikal's curriculum framework, which guides planning, teaching, and assessment at every level of interaction and throughout the entire educational environment.
(Cikal Curriculum Circle)
The core of the CCC is Cikal's Educational Objectives (Cita)
Cikal's educational objectives (CITA) include all 5 Stars Competencies. Cikal is dedicated to cultivating these competencies in every learner through our educational services.
The latter layer of CCC is Cikal Ways (Cara)
This layer shows the standard practices (CARA) that everyone in the school uses to help develop the Cikal 5 Stars Competencies during learning. These common methods are known as the "5Cs": Compassionate Connection, Comprehensive Concept, Constructive Continuity, Challenging Choices, and Community Context.
The external layer of CCC is Personalized Cikal Programs.
It consists of the educational contexts that Cikal presents to every learner (Personalized Cikal Programs). The learning settings are broad and inclusive, considering the diverse circumstances and environments students may experience. They start from the immediate and familiar settings of family and community, then expand into a broader spectrum. All these contribute to Cikal's process of creating learning programs for all learners.
CIKAL BEHAVIORIAL OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING DEVELOPMENT PHASES
In Cikal, the standard of achievements towards both competencies & potential growth is translated into what are so-called “Behavioral Objectives” (identical with “Learning Objectives”}. These Behavioral Objectives are written in Cikal’s Learning (Developmental) Phases, which consist of nine phases, and are subject to learning requirements from Preschool to High School level.
All behavioral Objectives are managed and grouped in each of these nine phases according to their relevance to every age group or level as follows: Phase A : Kelas Adik-Adik (6 to 24 Months old) Phase B : Kakak-Kakak - Pre-Kindergarten (2 to 4 Years old) Phase C : Reception Junior - Reception Senior (4 to 6 Years old) Phase D : Year 1 - Year 2 (6 to 8 years old) Phase E : Year 3 - Year 4 (8 to 10 years old) Phase F : Year 5 - Year 6 (10 to 12 years old) Phase G : Year 7 - Year 8 (12 to 14 years old) Phase H : Year 9 - Year 10 (14 to 16 years old) Phase I : Year 11 - Year 12 (16 to 18 years old) The phases above show how curriculum levels typically relate to years at school. Many students do not, however, fit this pattern. They include students with special learning needs, students with special needs, and students with no prior knowledge of the language being learned, regardless of their school year.
CIKAL INTEGRATED PROGRAMS
Cikal integrated programs aim to develop more meaningful learning experiences for students in achieving Cikal 5 Stars Competencies. Cikal will integrate several subjects into programs that address various global issues, making it easier for students to learn within the context of everyday life, which is the true reflection of our Cikal Ways of Learning (5Cs).
PRINCIPLES OF CIKAL INTEGRATED PROGRAMS
This integration will also contribute to the project-based approach that will allow flexibility in adapting content according to the times and to the frameworks that we offer (International Baccalaureate, Kurikulum Nasional, and Cambridge).
FRAMEWORKS
The International Baccalaureate® (IB)
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) offers a continuum of international education. The programmes encourage both personal and academic achievement, challenging students to excel in their studies and in their personal development. Cikal has already been authorised to offer IB programmes.
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP)
Applied in Sekolah Cikal Lebak Bulus, Sekolah Cikal Kemang, and Sekolah Cikal Surabaya
International Baccalaureate Diplomma Programme (IB DP)
Applied in Sekolah Cikal Amri Setu, Sekolah Cikal Lebak Bulus, and Sekolah Cikal Kemang
Cambridge Assessment International Education
The Cambridge International curriculum sets a global standard for education and is recognised by universities and employers worldwide. Cikal has already been authorised to offer and be the centre of Cambridge Assessment, particularly in Sekolah Cikal Serpong.
IGCSE Cambridge (Year 9 and Year 10)
Applied in Sekolah Cikal Serpong, Sekolah Cikal Amri Setu, Sekolah Cikal Surabaya, and Sekolah Cikal Lebak Bulus
A Level Cambridge (Year 11 and Year 12)
Applied in Sekolah Cikal Serpong and Sekolah Cikal Surabaya
The Indonesian National Curriculum
The national curriculum is set forth based on the national education standards to ensure the achievement of the National Education Goals.
HOUSES OF CIKAL
Cikal uses a community house system that brings together students, teachers, parents, and team members from preschool to high school. Inspired by mythological creatures, these groups help prevent bullying and seniority, encourage inclusivity, and teach children to work with different people in a welcoming environment. Everyone is placed into one of four groups, and each group stands for special character traits that reflect Cikal’s values: Dragon: Represents strength and knowledge. Phoenix: Represents an adventurous and intelligent spirit. Unicorn: Represents energy, intelligence, and uniqueness. Centicore: Represents a deep-thinking and strong-willed nature. House groups participate together in various school events and traditions throughout the year. These include Independence Day celebrations known as Pesta Rakyat in Cikal, STEAM Fairs, community festivals, Cikal Sport Day, and many more collaborative games or events.