Expert slams superschools for teaching too much

Expert slams superschools for teaching too much

JAKARTA (JP): Respected education expert Conny R. Semiawan
said Saturday most superschools in Indonesia have no clear
educational concepts.

Connie, a professor on education at Jakarta Teachers' Training
College (IKIP), said the burgeoning of super senior high schools
develops no clear-cut concepts.

She said superschools should not just be schools which teach
more subjects than the state curriculum has set and offer
luxurious facilities to students.

"If that is the case, the students will not learn much at
schools," Connie told some 100 participants of a seminar on
education in Indonesia.

Many superschools, however, tend to feed their students a lot
of subjects, she said. "It's not good for the students, the
schools make them memorize all the subjects without encouraging
creativity," she said.

In fact, she said, subjects that encourage children to develop
their creativity are essential, she said.

"The students have to observe, interpret, conclude and
anticipate their surroundings. This is important to make them
able to make decision in the future," Connie said.

Connie said that superschools are expected to give a good
education to gifted children and find education concepts, such as
curricula specially designed for gifted children.

Gifted children need special attention, she said. "It's not
true that children with high IQs can always perform without
special attention," Connie said.

The one-day seminar, titled Love Children, Love Education.
Analysis to Super Senior High Schools, was organized by Madania
Islamic Boarding School's foundation.

Other speakers at the seminar were noted Moslem scholar
Nurcholish Madjid and Arief Rachman, principal of the Lab School
of IKIP Jakarta.

Nurcholish defended Connie's opinion. Superschools spring up
because there is a strong tendency among parents to seek good
education for their children, she said.

"This tendency can't be denied. Superschools should not only
provide luxurious facilities, but they should also be aware of
the need for special education for gifted children, for example,"
Nurcholish said.

Nurcholish suggested boarding schools provide better education
for children. "In a boarding school, children are managed by
their teachers 24 hours a day," he said. (31)