Students abroad urged to preserve RI identity<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas stressed
\nyesterday the need for Indonesian schools abroad to preserve
\ntheir students' Indonesian identity.<\/p>\n
"What is vital are efforts to mold the children to ensure a
\nsense of national awareness, not isolated from Indonesian culture
\nand virtues," Alatas said yesterday as he received a visiting
\ngroup of model teachers.<\/p>\n
"This is so that when our children return to Indonesia they
\ncan quickly adjust both to their environment and the Indonesian
\neducational system," Alatas explained.<\/p>\n
To facilitate the education of children of Indonesians working
\nabroad, particularly those assigned by the government in
\nembassies, the Foreign Ministry has, since the 1960s, established
\nIndonesian schools in various countries.<\/p>\n
There are now 21 Indonesian schools with the status of a
\nsubsidized private school offering elementary to high school
\nclasses in such cities as Cairo, The Hague, Riyadh and Bangkok.<\/p>\n
Of these, 16 are fully recognized by the Ministry of Education
\nand Culture.<\/p>\n
The headteachers of the recognized schools are appointed by
\nthe foreign minister on the advice of the ministry of education.
\nOther teachers are appointed by the respective ambassadors.<\/p>\n
There are now 264 teachers educating over 1,700 children in
\nthese schools, whose curriculum complies fully with the national
\none applied here.<\/p>\n
Alatas admitted that the schools face many obstacles
\nparticularly in providing qualified teachers, since it is very
\nexpensive to provide teachers from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
However he remarked that, with the dedication and hard work of
\nthe teachers, results have been encouraging.<\/p>\n
"This is evident by the increasing number of graduates from
\nIndonesian schools abroad who have succeeded in passing the State
\nUniversity entrance exams," Alatas asserted.<\/p>\n
In countries where an Indonesian school is not available, the
\nchildren are often required to attend study groups usually held
\nonce a week on the weekend.<\/p>\n
These study groups provide classes which are geared
\nspecifically toward Indonesia such as Indonesian geography,
\nhistory, Bahasa Indonesia and Pancasila ideology.<\/p>\n
The aim is to ensure that (Indonesian) children in foreign
\nschools abroad will have high sense of nationalism, Alatas said.
\n(mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-abroad-urged-to-preserve-ri-identity-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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