Al Azhar students have fun with hybrid program<\/p>\n
Syamsir Alam, Contributor, Jakarta, samsir_abdullatif@yahoo.com<\/p>\n
It's almost 4 p.m. and most students have gone home already, but
\nthe second-year students of class 2D at Al Azhar high school in
\nKebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, were still busy doing the math
\nassignment they had just received from their teacher.<\/p>\n
\"It's hard to stay at school this late but it's fun anyway,\"
\nsaid Gita Prambandhari, one of the students. \"Of course, we have
\nto spend extra hours if we want to join this program. But at
\nleast we experience something that students from other classes
\ndon't.\"<\/p>\n
\"We know now how the curriculum of internationally recognized
\nschools work,\" Gita said.<\/p>\n
Another student, Amelia Hayati said, \"The things that make us
\neven luckier and happier is that at the end of the day we will
\nget two academic recognitions: a national-based certificate and
\nan internationally recognized certificate from the Cambridge
\nExamination Center.\"<\/p>\n
Both Gita and Amelia were commenting on the \"hybrid program\"
\nin which Al Azhar, a privately run Islamic school, is combining
\nthe national curriculum and an adopted curriculum from the
\nCambridge Examination Center, under Cambridge University in
\nCambridge, England.<\/p>\n
Students were selected to take part in the program during
\ntheir first year. Only 21 were able to pass the test they are
\nrequired to take before being allowed into the program. They
\nstudy five prioritized subjects -- mathematics, biology,
\nchemistry, physics and English as a second language (ESL) -- in
\nEnglish, while other subjects are taught in Bahasa Indonesia. The
\nteaching process emphasizes a moderate school system that
\nmaintains Islamic values and atmosphere.<\/p>\n
The students of class 2D have already been in the program for
\nalmost two years, and are expected to complete the O Level
\nsyllabus in June. The O Level, which stands for Ordinary Level,
\nis meant for students aged 16 or in their second year of high
\nschool.<\/p>\n
Just like other students, they will take exams in June before
\ngoing on to the third year. But the O Level test from the
\nCambridge Examination Center will be given in November, according
\nto the Cambridge curriculum.<\/p>\n
By the time the students are in their third year, they will
\nonly need to focus their attention on final exams.<\/p>\n
By introducing the program, Al Azhar is preparing its
\ngraduates to compete at university or in the workforce here and
\noverseas.<\/p>\n
Another student of class 2D, Nabil, said one of the advantages
\nof the program was that he could access a website for class
\nmembers that allows them to share and discuss school problems
\namong themselves and with their teachers.<\/p>\n
Aldini said the O Level had helped students improve their oral
\nand written English skills.<\/p>\n
\"It's of great value to us. Although we don't go overseas to
\nstudy we can use our English to get jobs in the future,\" Amalia
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
So far, the hybrid program looks promising. However, the
\nprogram still faces challenges, especially in how to effectively
\naccommodate the core contents and domain skills of both
\ncurriculums to produce high school graduates with excellence in
\nskills and knowledge, while observing the Islamic value system.<\/p>",
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