Daryl Forde
Daryl Forde Contributor Jakarta
New paradigm about international education is emerging
Preschool, primary and secondary education in Indonesian is going through a period of transition. The emergence of National Plus schools throughout Indonesia, the growing acceptance of the various programs of the International Baccalaureate Organization together with the possibility of Indonesian students attending international schools in Indonesia means that a new educational paradigm about international education is emerging. You do not have to attend an international school or go overseas now to receive a high quality international education.
Yet what exactly is meant by an "international education?" Is it the same thing as an "international approach to education" or an "international curriculum"? The meaning is fuzzy and is used in different ways by different groups to promote particular vested interests.
Trying to identify some of the key characteristics is especially difficult. It is much more than offering one country's education program in a foreign country and it is much wider than simply celebrating festivals from around the world or having an international food day. Schools that claim to offer an international education or have an international approach to education need to be able to justify those claims. How? The following list offers some suggestions.
Does a school offer a curriculum framework that is internationally recognized and which highlights student outcomes and verifiable standards?
Are assessment standards and procedures throughout the school (and not just in the last two years) verifiable by a reputable and internationally recognized organization?
Does the school offer a bilingual education? Does the school enhance the continuing professional development of staff by supporting and encouraging their attendance at international or local conferences or by running a systematic and coherent in- service program within the school?
Does the school encourage international, inter-cultural understanding and cooperation on a regular basis? Does the school promote and respect the local cultural environment? Does the school have the power or autonomy to develop protocols and school procedures that are universal and internationally accepted.
Of the organizations that promote an international education, the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), a non-profit educational organization, is the most prominent. It has its headquarters in Geneva (Switzerland), an operational curriculum and assessment center in Cardiff, Wales, and regional offices in every continent. There are 1464 schools operating in 115 countries that offer one or more of the three IBO programs: Primary Years Program (PYP), Middle Years Program (MYP), and Diploma Program (DP). In Indonesia nine schools offer IBO programs and a substantial number are preparing submissions to join. What makes these programs so attractive?
The curriculum assessment frameworks for the PYP and MYP offer a coherent and systematic approach to learning. The approach to learning encourages the development of school programs whereby students question and critically evaluate information. Students reflect on what they have learned, they seek out and explore the links between traditional subjects, they develop an awareness of their own identity and most importantly they learn to live with others.
The DP offers a centralized and standardized curriculum framework of learning and examinations, which is generally accepted world-wide for University entrance. To participate in an IB program means that a school has to commit itself to an ongoing and collegial partnership with other IB schools.
Attendance at overseas conferences, regular IB workshops held in many countries and an online curriculum center allows teachers to communicate openly and regularly on educational matters.
George Walker, the director general of the International Baccalaureate Organization has stated that the key element of an international dimension to education is "providing an education from which young people can learn to live together." Moreover, all three programs endorse the concept of student centered learning and promote educational activities and outcomes which provide students with "the power to think, the will to act and the courage to persevere."
Of the schools that offer IB courses, Sekolah Tiara Bangsa in Cibubur, East Jakarta was the first school in Indonesia to be authorized to teach the Primary Years Program and it now teaches MYP as well.
There are four schools which offer the PYP, five schools offering the MYP and five schools offering the DP. International Schools, such as JIS and BIS offer the DP but do not offer the PYP or MYP. The official website of the IBO, www.ibo.org, contains useful information. Parents can now place their children in Indonesian schools that offer the same high standard as international schools.
Gaining in popularity are the National Plus Schools. There are enormous differences in the quality of these schools and so the Association of National Plus School has recently developed criteria for accreditation. Schools who wish to be accredited with the Association must demonstrate the following characteristics.
- That a set of clear policies has been developed, documented, published and implemented by the school. And that there is knowledge of and respect for Indonesian cultural values, diversity and the natural environment
- That students are educated in, and can communicate using both Indonesian and English
- That there is a commitment to plan and implement ongoing staff professional development
- That the school develops and uses national and international learning outcomes in their curriculum framework
- That educational programs, teaching methodologies and a range of assessment practices support student-centered learning
- That an appropriate range of resources and facilities are provided to achieve described learning outcomes
Sekolah Tiara Bangsa, Sekolah Cita Buana, Sekolah Pelita Harapan, Sekolah Global Jaya, and Sekolah Bina Nusantara were amongst the first schools to be established and authorized as National Plus schools.
Curriculum from Western Australia, Victoria, that Australian Capital Territory and the IBO is offered at particular schools. Many schools call themselves National Plus, but not all have been accredited by the Association.
It is evident that education in Indonesia is being transformed. There are now a number of world-class schools operating in Indonesia, both international and National Plus. Our children must be prepared for the reality of a world in which they will live and work. It is therefore crucial that schools adopt a focus that encourages internationalism. -- (The writer is the director of Sekolah Tiara Bangsa, Cibubur, Jakarta).