Batam to open trilingual school

Batam to open trilingual school

BATAM: Investors in Batam plan to open later this year the first elementary school on the industrial estate island that will teach in Bahasa Indonesia, English and Mandarin.

"Hopefully by the middle of this year, we will be able to accept students and teachers from abroad, some of whom will come from the Philippines," said head of Tahu Masa Depan foundation Eddy on Monday.

He said the foundation had already obtained the necessary permit and was preparing the school's teaching material, staff and students.

The foundation was founded by 30 businessmen from Batam, he said, and was aimed at helping students become competitive in finding future employment.

One of the considerations for the trilingual curriculum was Batam's proximity to Singapore, which is only 15 minutes away by boat.

Singaporean companies are the main source of investment on Batam Island, which establish their manufacturing bases here.

Eddy added that the school would allocate 20 percent of its enrollment capacity to students from poor families. -- Antara