International Junior High School to Open in Kudus, Preparing Future-Ready Generation

Yayasan Pendidikan Islam (YPI) Raden Umar Said Kudus, an educational institution widely recognised for the success of SMK Raden Umar Said in the creative industry sector, is now expanding its dedication by establishing a junior secondary education unit: SMP Internasional Raden Umar Said Kudus. This strategic move is taken as a form of the foundation’s commitment to creating a sustainable educational ecosystem for the younger generation in Kudus and its surrounding areas. As a formal step towards full operation, on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, the Kudus Regency Education Office conducted a field visitation to verify and ensure that all facilities, infrastructure, and educational operational standards have been met in accordance with applicable regulations. “We welcome the presence of an international school in Kudus. This is one of the efforts to strengthen a quality education ecosystem. It will also expand choices for the community, while helping to improve the quality of human resources. The presence of this school will encourage positive collaboration with various educational institutions, as a concrete step in preparing a superior, character-driven young generation capable of competing at the global level without abandoning local values and wisdom,” said Maulana Majid, Head of the Curriculum Section at the Kudus Regency Education, Youth, and Sports Office during the visitation. Meanwhile, Azhar Latif, Chairman of Yayasan Pendidikan Islam Raden Umar Said Kudus, stated that the best long-term investment for the future is education. This International Junior High School is a manifestation of the foundation’s commitment to collaborating with parents, teachers, students, and the government to create a sound educational ecosystem, especially in the region. The hope is that from here, a generation of broad-minded learners will emerge who still respect their cultural roots. It is not merely about providing quality educational services, but also about advancing education that benefits the entire community. SMP Internasional Raden Umar Said Kudus arrives with a vision to produce a generation that excels not only in general and religious knowledge but also possesses technical skills relevant to future industry needs. The school offers a unique integration, including a National and International Curriculum combining the national curriculum enriched with the Cambridge international curriculum for global academic standards, a Bilingual Teaching Method emphasising communication skills in two languages (Indonesian and English) as a modality for students’ global literacy, and three main concentrations allowing students to delve into interests in Tahfidz (Religious Studies), Information Technology, and Vocational fields. One of the main advantages of SMP Internasional Raden Umar Said is its vocational curriculum, designed seamlessly with SMK Raden Umar Said. Considering that SMK Raden Umar Said has become a centre of excellence in Animation, Visual Communication Design, and Software and Game Development, this junior high school will serve as a mature initial foundation for students with a strong interest in the creative industry. “The establishment of SMP Internasional Raden Umar Said is our concrete step to provide world-class quality education access for elementary school graduates in Kudus. We want to build a solid educational bridge, where students’ interests in technology and vocational skills are fostered from the junior secondary level with international standards,” added Azhar Latif. The foundation is optimistic that with the issuance of an operational permit in the near future, SMP Internasional Raden Umar Said Kudus will soon open registration for new students. The school is open to all elementary school graduates who have the spirit to develop their potential through a modern, religious, and technology-oriented educational approach.