Bali opens more schools to cater for expat kids

Bali opens more schools to cater for expat kids

Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

Second only to the capital city of Jakarta, Bali has been home
to hundreds or probably thousands of expatriates living and
working on the tourist island since the tourism boom in the
l970s.

Historically, Bali has had a vibrant expatriate community
dominated by artists and scientists since the early l930s. The
intervention of wars and political struggles diminished their
numbers greatly until the early l970s when a new generation of
artists and young travelers rediscovered the island as one of
popular tourist destinations in the world.

The rapid growth of the hospitality industry, the flourishing
textile, garment and furniture industry has been luring experts,
businessmen and professionals worldwide, many of whom have
settled in Bali bringing with them their children or starting new
families. Therefore, by the late 1970s, the need for an
international school was very great.

In the beginning, a number of private study groups with tutors
working with correspondence courses were set up but these only
served as temporary solutions. What these expatriate school-age
children needed most was a permanent school.

Fifteen years later, in September 1985, the Bali International
School, was opened in Banjar Taman in Sanur, 15 kilometers east
of Denpasar, to cater primarily for expatriate children.

In l992, around 150 elementary school students from 26
countries were enrolled at the school. In its 17th year of
operation in 2002, as many as 250 students are registered with
the school supported by 31 expat teachers and 50 Indonesian
staff.

School director Dr. Jorge Nelson explained that while the
rapid expansion of the enrollment mirrored the growth of Bali's
tourist and manufacturing industries, it had also brought new
challenges.

The nationalities of the children have become increasingly
diverse, he explained. While previously students came mostly from
North America, Europe and Australia, they were later joined by
Japanese, Korean and Mexican nationalities. It should also be
noted that many of the children have dual nationality, often with
an Indonesian or Balinese parent.

In spite of fears that the ongoing crisis and political
problems affecting Indonesia since l997 would cause financial
problems and a drop in enrollment," We prospered with the influx
of many new students from Jakarta and Yogyakarta," he said.

The school, which has accreditation from the New South Wales
Department of Education and the Western Associations of Schools
and Colleges, will expand to grade 12 next year. With the
liberalization of the law on Indonesian education, Indonesian
students are allowed to enroll at an international school.

As expat children are growing in number, more and more
international as well as bilingual schools have opened in Bali.

The Australian International School (AIS) is one such example.
The school is in Kerobokan in the Kuta area, west of Denpasar.
Seventy students aged between two years and 18 years enjoy their
education at the school.

"The school is accredited, inspected and recognized by the
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Department of Education, and
teaches courses recognized by them," maintained school principal
Chris Pratt. Students in Year 10 who complete their studies
receive their ACT Year 10 Certificate, indicating that they
have completed high school to a standard acceptable to any
Australian education system.

Students completing Year 12 receive the ACT Year 12
Certificate and Tertiary Entrance Statement. Students receiving
these are qualified for entrance into Australian universities.

Pratt also said that students are also encouraged to actively
participate in after-school activities such as silat (Indonesian
martial arts), basketball, computer activities, gamelan (Balinese
traditional gamelan orchestra), web page design and abstract
arts.

"Students generally adapt very well to conditions here. The
school is very friendly, everybody knows everybody else and
newcomers are made very welcome. Many of our students are born of
partnerships between Indonesian nationals and overseas partners,"
explained the school principal.

Students are mainly from the United States, British, New
Zealand and Australian families, but Korean and Japanese families
are also represented. Many other European countries are also
represented.

In order to introduce children to the local culture, every
student from kindergarten to Year 10 receives instruction in
Bahasa Indonesia from Indonesian teachers. Many aspects of
Indonesian culture and society are included in mainstream
programs.

The other international school is the New English School,
which follows the British educational system.

Dawn Herus, the school's head teacher, said the children are
taught using the immersion methodology, where the child is taught
in the English language in all aspects of learning. The books
used are those recommended for teaching within the UK national
curriculum.

"Class sizes are restricted and several teacher assistants
help each teacher, to ensure pupils receive individual care and
attention," Ms. Herus pointed out. Children's creative, physical
and social skills are developed through a broad range of
activities.

The New English School, located in Kerobokan area, has
complemented its curriculum with a program that includes design
and technology classes, information technology courses, Bahasa
Indonesia and cultural enrichment studies.

"We have a Bahasa Indonesia program for each year level," she
said. For this academic year, the school is introducing
Indonesian cultural studies, which includes the history of
Indonesia, geography and festivals. "We also do Balinese dances,"
she added.

Unfortunately, not all expat parents could afford
international-standard education with expensive tuition fees.

Steve Keighran, headmaster of the newly established
Antar Bangsa Community (ABC) high school, said the map of the
current expat community in Bali had been changing drastically. In
the past, the majority of expats coming to Bali were general
managers of hotels, large companies or businessmen.

"They didn't mind paying high school fees for their kids. Many
of them even received education allowances from their firms,"
Keighran said. Times are changing.

"A large number of foreigners are flowing into Bali to do
small to medium enterprises, but they need a school for their
kids," he said.

ABC high school was founded to cater for expatriates and
Indonesian students whose parents were looking for an affordable
international secondary education.

ABC offers courses based on Stages 4 and 5 (years 7
and 10) and Stage 6 (Years 11 and 12) of the New South
Wales Board of Studies curriculum.

In years 7 to 10, the curriculum is based on outcome-
statements of what students know and or can do. There are content
requirements in most subjects, with enough flexibility for the
school to cater for its diverse student population.

The school curriculum leads, in years 7 to 10, to the
externally assessed School Certificate Examination and in years
11 and 12, to the externally assessed Higher School Certificate
examination. Both the School Certificate and Higher School
Certificate are internationally recognized Australian
credentials.

With the help of rapid technological development and teaching
methods, students here in Bali can excel very well. "The world-
standard educational facilities available now in Bali cater to
most parents' and children's needs," said Dawn Herus of the New
English School.