Competition between schools healthy

Competition between schools healthy

JAKARTA (JP): The establishment of the so-called superschools in various cities is injecting a welcome competitive spirit into the education world in Indonesia, according to a senior official of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

These superschools are forcing government schools to improve their quality, Sri Hardjoko Wirjomartono, the chief of the ministry's Research and Development Agency, said yesterday.

A number of superschools have been established in Indonesia in recent years, all aiming to provide the best available education, some combining strict military or religious disciplines with traditional methods. Most of these schools charge high tuition fees that only the wealthy can afford, but refuse to be called elite schools.

Some people have expressed apprehension that these schools will further widen the gap between the wealthy and the poor.

But the government has defended the policy of allowing the establishment of such schools.

Sri Hardjoko said all schools, including the government-owned ones, must attempt to provide better education standards. "If they don't, they will be left behind," he said.

He emphasized the need for strengthening the curriculum and the quality of teaching staff to strengthen government schools.

In big cities like Jakarta, a number of government-run schools are already offering such good facilities that competition for places is stiff.

"These government schools are also running extra-curricular activities," he added.

Their facilities such as libraries, laboratories, computers and sports match those provided by the superschools, he said. He conceded that the quality of government schools in smaller cities must still be improved.

The leading superschools in Jakarta include Pelita Harapan in the Lippo Karawaci project in Tangerang, Al Azhar Boarding School in the Lippo City Complex in Bekasi, St. Laurensia in the Alam Sutera housing complex in Serpong, Tangerang, and Jaya Global School in Bintaro Jaya, Tangerang. (31)