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.