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)