Brithis school to expand quality education<\/p>\n
By Yoko N. Sari<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The British International School in Bintaro Jaya
\nat the outskirts of Jakarta strives to offer the highest possible
\nstandard of education. The school is now planning to expand by
\nintroducing the sixth form (equivalent to the last year in an
\nAmerican high school) and the International Baccalaureate.<\/p>\n
Jill McLean, development director of the school, said that the
\ncapacity of the school, currently 760 pupils, will be expanded to
\naccommodate 1,400 pupils.<\/p>\n
However, the management has decided not to do it too fast. \"It
\nis a slow process, we intend to do it well because we don't want
\nto enlarge the school capacity in a hurry,\" McLean said.<\/p>\n
John Birchall, the headmaster of the school, said that the
\nchallenge ahead is enormous and very exciting. \"The final tier to
\nbe introduced starting next year is expected to be the best pre-
\nuniversity qualification available to young expatriates,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The British International School complex in Bintaro Jaya,
\nwhich was inaugurated by Britain's Prince Edward in March last
\nyear, is an independent school which provides a British-style
\neducation for the children of expatriates residing in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The aim of the school is to enable the child to realize his
\nacademic, social and physical potential and to develop his
\naesthetic awareness -- both as an individual and as a member of
\nsociety.<\/p>\n
Priority is given to providing the family with a secure,
\nfriendly and stimulating environment in which the child can
\nbenefit from high teaching standards, efficient, well-equipped
\nfacilities and broad-base curriculum.<\/p>\n
The school was established in 1973 under the auspices of the
\nBritish Embassy in Permata Hijau, South Jakarta, before moving to
\nthe current complex in Bintaro Jaya. The new 12.6-hectare complex
\nis made up of a pre-school and three other schools -- infant,
\njunior and senior.<\/p>\n
Pre-school caters to three and four year-olds and is an
\neducational unit operating under the umbrella of the infant
\nschool. The objective of the pre-school is to meet the needs of
\nthe developing child in an environment which is stimulating and
\nchallenging.<\/p>\n
The infant school is designed for active learners and those
\nwho operate most effectively through first hand experiences. They
\nare encouraged to question, explore, apply and test out what they
\nknow and can do. They also develop their ideas, understanding and
\nlanguage as they begin to assimilate the knowledge, concepts and
\nskills which will give them a base to build on throughout their
\nlives.<\/p>\n
The junior school aims to produce confident and competent
\nlearners who are able to communicate effectively. When unsure of
\nthe answer to a question, the students must know how to
\nindependently research an answer. When faced with a problem, they
\nlearn how to design and make a solution, test out the result and
\nrefine the design. They should also work as a member of a group
\nor a team, share responsibility, success and failure.<\/p>\n
Changing world<\/p>\n
The program at the senior school respects and guides
\nindividuals according to their needs. It also aims to realize
\npotential, foster enthusiasm for learning, develop skills within
\na multi-cultural environment and help students to interpret and
\ndevelop their roles in a changing world.<\/p>\n
McLean explained that each school has its own facilities, such
\nas a library, a music room and sport centers. Each school is
\ndifferentiated by the color of the building's pipes, gray for
\ninfant school, red for junior school and blue for senior school.<\/p>\n
Each student pays US$1,665 per term for pre-school, $2,750 for
\ninfant school, $2,795 for junior school and $3,200 for senior
\nschool.<\/p>\n
Indonesian students might be envious seeing the facilities
\nprovided by the school, ranging from swimming pools, libraries
\nand a huge sports field in front of the school complex.<\/p>\n
Four principles guide its curriculum, which must be broad,
\nbalanced, relevant and different.<\/p>\n
Broad -- so that it introduces each pupil to a wide range of
\nconcepts, experiences, knowledge and skills. It also promotes
\nmoral, cultural, academic, aesthetic and physical development.<\/p>\n
Balanced -- so that each area of the curriculum is allowed
\nsufficient time for its contribution to be effective.<\/p>\n
Relevant -- so that all subjects contribute to a sound general
\neducation which prepares pupils for opportunities,
\nresponsibilities and experiences of adult life in a rapidly
\nchanging world.<\/p>\n
Different -- so that what is taught and how it is taught is
\nmatched to individual pupils and develops their abilities and
\naptitudes.<\/p>\n
Beside various subjects as math and geography, the school is
\nalso offering performing arts (music and drama), visual arts
\n(art, craft and design), science and technology and physical
\neducation and recreation.<\/p>\n
McLean said that the wide variety of facilities provided by
\nthe school has attracted some wealthy Indonesians to investigate
\nenrolling their children in the school.<\/p>\n
\"The school has received some admittance proposals from
\nIndonesians but they are turned down because the school is
\ndesigned only for expatriates,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Although the Ministry of Education prohibits Indonesians to
\nstudy in the international school in Indonesia, some have studied
\nthere by using fake staying permits (KIM-S), she said.<\/p>\n
McLean said that based on this experience the school will not
\naccept pupils whose parents do not hold foreign passports.<\/p>\n
First priority<\/p>\n
The superb facilities have encouraged a rising number of
\nforeigners to enroll their children in the school, McLean said,
\nadding that the waiting list is growing rapidly and many parents
\nvisit the school just to observe the facilities.<\/p>\n
\"The waiting list for the infant school is growing rapidly and
\nthere are plenty of inquiries for senior school as well,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
A staff of the school said that the first priority is given to
\nBritish nationals and then to commonwealth country citizens.<\/p>\n
McLean explained that 50 percent of the pupils studying at the
\nschool are from United Kingdom, 20 percent from Australia and the
\nrest are from other countries, including Taiwan, Sweden and
\nJapan.<\/p>\n
The school employs around 73 teachers mostly from UK but there
\nare also Canadian, Indian and Indonesian teachers.<\/p>\n
McLean explained that Indonesian teachers are needed because
\nthe school also includes Bahasa Indonesia in its curriculum for
\nforeign languages in addition to German and French.<\/p>\n
Birchall, the headmaster, is always looking for a bigger
\nchallenge and to improve the school's facilities and quality.<\/p>\n
The desire has brought Birchall to teach in nine different
\nschools in the UK as well as a remote islands of St. Helena, a
\ntiny island on west coast of Africa.<\/p>\n
The 49-year-old Scotsman, who became the school's headmaster
\njust three weeks ago, admitted that it was unusual for a teacher
\nto change schools so often like himself.<\/p>\n
\"Growing a project is always exciting me, the great feeling of
\nsatisfaction of doing it and dealing with continuous challenge,\"
\nBirchall said in thick Scottish accent.<\/p>\n
Birchall took the job at the British International School
\nbecause of its mission to deliver the very best in education and
\nits plan to improve its educational programs.<\/p>\n
\"The school is also trying to make sure that this is going to
\nbe a family school in which we know the pupils and their parents.
\nThis can be done through various family activities,\" he said<\/p>\n
Birchall is very concerned with his pupils' interests and
\nstated that his main goal is to provide students with adequate
\nadvice about subjects they are good at.<\/p>\n
\"I think teaching is the best way to help children in getting
\ninformation about something which is important for their future,\"
\nBirchall said.<\/p>\n
Before he took his current job Birchall spent three years as a
\nheadmaster of the British International School in Gran Canaria,
\nagain to answer the challenge to improve the school's education
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
He said that the best thing as a teacher is to watch student
\nactivities. He loves listening to their noisy voices as well as
\nseeing his students achieve highly in their studies.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/brithis-school-to-expand-quality-education-1447893297",
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