More state schools offer int'l classes<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
One year after passing the entrance test to SMU 70 senior high
\nschool's "international class" in 2003, Dewi Rahayu Noviyanti,
\n16, still feels proud that she beat other students in the tight
\nselection process.<\/p>\n
"When the program was introduced, I was excited to enroll as I
\nwas fascinated by the foreign curriculum," Dewi, a second-year
\nhigh school student of SMU 70's international class in South
\nJakarta, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
She said that before enrolling in the program, all prospective
\nstudents had to take a three-month English course taught by
\nteachers certified by Cambridge University of the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
"Thank God I was able to manage in the English course," said
\nDewi.<\/p>\n
Dewi is just one of the students in Jakarta who enrolled in
\nthe international class, where English is the medium of
\ninstruction.<\/p>\n
Beginning the 2005\/2006 school year, state senior high school
\nSMU Negeri 68 in South Jakarta joins 99 other senior high schools
\nall over Indonesia in adopting the internationally recognized
\nCambridge curriculum.<\/p>\n
The school will offer an international curriculum limited to
\none class of 26 students. The students would have passed the
\nrequired selection test.<\/p>\n
"We have opened the international class in response to the
\ntrend among parents of sending their children to school abroad,"
\nSMU 68 principal Muchlis Muchtar told the Post.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta alone there are six state schools with an
\ninternational curriculum; SMU 8, 68 and 70 in South Jakarta, SMU
\n78 in West Jakarta, SMU 13 in North Jakarta and SMU 81 in East
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Deputy principal of SMU 68 Nurhawati Siagian said that the
\ndifference between the regular and international curriculum was
\nthe language.<\/p>\n
"In the international class, the use of English in class is
\nmandatory among students and teachers," she said, adding that all
\nbooks utilized would adhere to the standard required by the
\ninternational curriculum.<\/p>\n
She said, in terms of facilities, students of the
\ninternational class would use computer labs and have access to
\nthe Internet just like students in the regular classes.<\/p>\n
However, students of the international class would receive two
\ndiplomas upon graduation; a national and an international one,
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
The program requirements include a pass grade in the final
\nexamination for graduation from junior high school and the high
\nschool entrance exam for English, Mathematics and Science.<\/p>\n
"We initially received 33 applicants of which 24 passed the
\ntest, but four of them withdrew. We then opened up six places for
\na second group to fulfill our quota of 26 students for the
\ninternational class," she explained.<\/p>\n
The international class, which will be taught by five local
\nteachers with Cambridge certification, also offers an
\nacceleration exam. After two years of study, a student who
\nsuccessfully passes the exam can gain admission to foreign
\nuniversities.<\/p>\n
In this case, the student would only get an international
\ndiploma.<\/p>\n
During the school year, the students in the international
\nclass will also take standard Indonesian curriculum subjects such
\nas religion and history. The students are also required to attend
\nclasses from 7 a.m to 3:10 p.m, which are the same hours of study
\nfor regular classes at SMU 68.<\/p>\n
Students of the international class at SMU 68 are required to
\npay a new students contribution of Rp 5 million, as do regular
\nstudents, as well as tuition and book fees totaling Rp 20 million
\nper annum.<\/p>\n
"The tuition can be paid in installments within one semester
\n(six months)," said Siagian. (004)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-state-schools-offer-intl-classes-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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