Brithis school to expand quality education
Brithis school to expand quality education
By Yoko N. Sari
JAKARTA (JP): The British International School in Bintaro Jaya at the outskirts of Jakarta strives to offer the highest possible standard of education. The school is now planning to expand by introducing the sixth form (equivalent to the last year in an American high school) and the International Baccalaureate.
Jill McLean, development director of the school, said that the capacity of the school, currently 760 pupils, will be expanded to accommodate 1,400 pupils.
However, the management has decided not to do it too fast. "It is a slow process, we intend to do it well because we don't want to enlarge the school capacity in a hurry," McLean said.
John Birchall, the headmaster of the school, said that the challenge ahead is enormous and very exciting. "The final tier to be introduced starting next year is expected to be the best pre- university qualification available to young expatriates," he said.
The British International School complex in Bintaro Jaya, which was inaugurated by Britain's Prince Edward in March last year, is an independent school which provides a British-style education for the children of expatriates residing in Jakarta.
The aim of the school is to enable the child to realize his academic, social and physical potential and to develop his aesthetic awareness -- both as an individual and as a member of society.
Priority is given to providing the family with a secure, friendly and stimulating environment in which the child can benefit from high teaching standards, efficient, well-equipped facilities and broad-base curriculum.
The school was established in 1973 under the auspices of the British Embassy in Permata Hijau, South Jakarta, before moving to the current complex in Bintaro Jaya. The new 12.6-hectare complex is made up of a pre-school and three other schools -- infant, junior and senior.
Pre-school caters to three and four year-olds and is an educational unit operating under the umbrella of the infant school. The objective of the pre-school is to meet the needs of the developing child in an environment which is stimulating and challenging.
The infant school is designed for active learners and those who operate most effectively through first hand experiences. They are encouraged to question, explore, apply and test out what they know and can do. They also develop their ideas, understanding and language as they begin to assimilate the knowledge, concepts and skills which will give them a base to build on throughout their lives.
The junior school aims to produce confident and competent learners who are able to communicate effectively. When unsure of the answer to a question, the students must know how to independently research an answer. When faced with a problem, they learn how to design and make a solution, test out the result and refine the design. They should also work as a member of a group or a team, share responsibility, success and failure.
Changing world
The program at the senior school respects and guides individuals according to their needs. It also aims to realize potential, foster enthusiasm for learning, develop skills within a multi-cultural environment and help students to interpret and develop their roles in a changing world.
McLean explained that each school has its own facilities, such as a library, a music room and sport centers. Each school is differentiated by the color of the building's pipes, gray for infant school, red for junior school and blue for senior school.
Each student pays US$1,665 per term for pre-school, $2,750 for infant school, $2,795 for junior school and $3,200 for senior school.
Indonesian students might be envious seeing the facilities provided by the school, ranging from swimming pools, libraries and a huge sports field in front of the school complex.
Four principles guide its curriculum, which must be broad, balanced, relevant and different.
Broad -- so that it introduces each pupil to a wide range of concepts, experiences, knowledge and skills. It also promotes moral, cultural, academic, aesthetic and physical development.
Balanced -- so that each area of the curriculum is allowed sufficient time for its contribution to be effective.
Relevant -- so that all subjects contribute to a sound general education which prepares pupils for opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life in a rapidly changing world.
Different -- so that what is taught and how it is taught is matched to individual pupils and develops their abilities and aptitudes.
Beside various subjects as math and geography, the school is also offering performing arts (music and drama), visual arts (art, craft and design), science and technology and physical education and recreation.
McLean said that the wide variety of facilities provided by the school has attracted some wealthy Indonesians to investigate enrolling their children in the school.
"The school has received some admittance proposals from Indonesians but they are turned down because the school is designed only for expatriates," she said.
Although the Ministry of Education prohibits Indonesians to study in the international school in Indonesia, some have studied there by using fake staying permits (KIM-S), she said.
McLean said that based on this experience the school will not accept pupils whose parents do not hold foreign passports.
First priority
The superb facilities have encouraged a rising number of foreigners to enroll their children in the school, McLean said, adding that the waiting list is growing rapidly and many parents visit the school just to observe the facilities.
"The waiting list for the infant school is growing rapidly and there are plenty of inquiries for senior school as well," she said.
A staff of the school said that the first priority is given to British nationals and then to commonwealth country citizens.
McLean explained that 50 percent of the pupils studying at the school are from United Kingdom, 20 percent from Australia and the rest are from other countries, including Taiwan, Sweden and Japan.
The school employs around 73 teachers mostly from UK but there are also Canadian, Indian and Indonesian teachers.
McLean explained that Indonesian teachers are needed because the school also includes Bahasa Indonesia in its curriculum for foreign languages in addition to German and French.
Birchall, the headmaster, is always looking for a bigger challenge and to improve the school's facilities and quality.
The desire has brought Birchall to teach in nine different schools in the UK as well as a remote islands of St. Helena, a tiny island on west coast of Africa.
The 49-year-old Scotsman, who became the school's headmaster just three weeks ago, admitted that it was unusual for a teacher to change schools so often like himself.
"Growing a project is always exciting me, the great feeling of satisfaction of doing it and dealing with continuous challenge," Birchall said in thick Scottish accent.
Birchall took the job at the British International School because of its mission to deliver the very best in education and its plan to improve its educational programs.
"The school is also trying to make sure that this is going to be a family school in which we know the pupils and their parents. This can be done through various family activities," he said
Birchall is very concerned with his pupils' interests and stated that his main goal is to provide students with adequate advice about subjects they are good at.
"I think teaching is the best way to help children in getting information about something which is important for their future," Birchall said.
Before he took his current job Birchall spent three years as a headmaster of the British International School in Gran Canaria, again to answer the challenge to improve the school's education facilities.
He said that the best thing as a teacher is to watch student activities. He loves listening to their noisy voices as well as seeing his students achieve highly in their studies.