Al Azhar students have fun with hybrid program

Al Azhar students have fun with hybrid program

Syamsir Alam, Contributor, Jakarta, samsir_abdullatif@yahoo.com

It's almost 4 p.m. and most students have gone home already, but
the second-year students of class 2D at Al Azhar high school in
Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, were still busy doing the math
assignment they had just received from their teacher.

"It's hard to stay at school this late but it's fun anyway,"
said Gita Prambandhari, one of the students. "Of course, we have
to spend extra hours if we want to join this program. But at
least we experience something that students from other classes
don't."

"We know now how the curriculum of internationally recognized
schools work," Gita said.

Another student, Amelia Hayati said, "The things that make us
even luckier and happier is that at the end of the day we will
get two academic recognitions: a national-based certificate and
an internationally recognized certificate from the Cambridge
Examination Center."

Both Gita and Amelia were commenting on the "hybrid program"
in which Al Azhar, a privately run Islamic school, is combining
the national curriculum and an adopted curriculum from the
Cambridge Examination Center, under Cambridge University in
Cambridge, England.

Students were selected to take part in the program during
their first year. Only 21 were able to pass the test they are
required to take before being allowed into the program. They
study five prioritized subjects -- mathematics, biology,
chemistry, physics and English as a second language (ESL) -- in
English, while other subjects are taught in Bahasa Indonesia. The
teaching process emphasizes a moderate school system that
maintains Islamic values and atmosphere.

The students of class 2D have already been in the program for
almost two years, and are expected to complete the O Level
syllabus in June. The O Level, which stands for Ordinary Level,
is meant for students aged 16 or in their second year of high
school.

Just like other students, they will take exams in June before
going on to the third year. But the O Level test from the
Cambridge Examination Center will be given in November, according
to the Cambridge curriculum.

By the time the students are in their third year, they will
only need to focus their attention on final exams.

By introducing the program, Al Azhar is preparing its
graduates to compete at university or in the workforce here and
overseas.

Another student of class 2D, Nabil, said one of the advantages
of the program was that he could access a website for class
members that allows them to share and discuss school problems
among themselves and with their teachers.

Aldini said the O Level had helped students improve their oral
and written English skills.

"It's of great value to us. Although we don't go overseas to
study we can use our English to get jobs in the future," Amalia
said.

So far, the hybrid program looks promising. However, the
program still faces challenges, especially in how to effectively
accommodate the core contents and domain skills of both
curriculums to produce high school graduates with excellence in
skills and knowledge, while observing the Islamic value system.