Best school chiefs gather

JAKARTA (JP): Administrators from 23 "national-plus" schools gathered in Jakarta on Friday to exchange experiences about what make their schools different from ordinary schools.

The Director General of Elementary and Secondary Education of the Ministry of Education, Indra Djati Sidi, in his keynote address gave the government's endorsement to the two-day gathering.

He did not rule out the possibility that some of the concepts used by these schools could be introduced into the curriculum of other schools.

The conference aimed at developing understanding and competence which add value to existing approaches to the national-plus education system, Darrell Van Luchene, deputy headmaster of Pelita Harapan School which hosts the program, told reporters.

Among schools taking part in the event are Pelita Harapan, Global Jaya and Tiara Bangsa, all in and around Jakarta, Cita Hati Christian School in Surabaya, Nusa Alam from Lombok Island and National Buin Batu from Sumbawa Island.

There are more than 100 schools in Indonesia which sell themselves as "national-plus", promising academic excellence in return for usually hefty fees. Some of the schools offer scholarships. (04)