Best school chiefs gather

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)