Int'l preschools offer world-class curriculum

Int'l preschools offer world-class curriculum

Debbie A. Lubis, Contributor, Jakarta

Four-year-old Caca used to be reluctant when it was time to go
to school. Her mother always tried hard to wake her up every
morning. However, the little girl often went back to sleep even
though the school bus had been waiting for several minutes.

"She always complained that school was the most boring place
and often refused to mingle with other kids," said Farida, the
girl's mother. Nevertheless, the girl's attitude towards school
changed after her mother moved her to an international preschool

Farida is grateful that the new school allows her daughter to
engage in activities she likes and gives opportunities to develop
her curiosity based a sound rationale. After two months in a
Montessori preschool in South Jakarta, her daughter turned out to
be a high achiever who also has a sense of responsibility and
respect for others. "I`m happy that my daughter is no longer a
spoiled kid," Farida said.

Many parents today prefer to send their children to
international preschools even though the school fees are a bit
higher than those of local ones. They believe that such
preschools can help to develop their children's potential and
abilities to relate well with others.

"I don't mind paying extra money as long as my children
receive a non-threatening and non-judgmental learning
experience," said Budiono, a father of three.

He said that a good preschool should be able to handle
aggressive children who like to bully others and smart children
who tend to be introverted and indifferent.

Budiono, however, reminded parents to ensure that a student-
oriented learning atmosphere is really present in such
preschools. "Teacher-oriented and one-way-learning instruction
will impede our children from being free to develop their own
initiatives. They will be afraid to make mistakes," he said.

Most international preschools have the same goal, which is to
develop children's feelings of trust and positive self-esteem
through a curriculum that pays attention to the child's social,
emotional, physical and intellectual needs in its educational
activities.

The Plan Readiness Education Program (PREP) is an excellent
curriculum applied by Tutor Time International Preschool. Aside
from learning the standard academic skills of reading, writing
and math through Tutor Time's Phonic Express, Handwriting Helper
and Math Magic programs, children also learn how to be
independent and active learners.

Without parents or nannies in the classroom, the children
acquire the skills necessary for kindergarten and elementary
school in a nurturing, loving, fun and secure environment.

"The children become excited about learning, and become full
of confidence in expressing their thoughts, while mastering all
the necessary academic skills that will prepare them for
elementary school education," said the school's director, Ingrid
Suria.

Ingrid said that teachers, curriculum and environment played
important roles in building the children's confidence in making
decisions, developing their talents and building up their self-
esteem. Children are encouraged to learn from everything they
see, hear, touch, taste and smell.

The school provides an outdoor playground and indoor village
for socio-dramatic play that children can explore everyday. There
are also facilities for art, music and movement, building blocks,
science, library, social studies, home/practical life as well as
study using computers.

Tutor Time International Preschool is a U.S. franchise that
has six centers in Jakarta (Pondok Indah, Kemang, Kelapa Gading,
Puri and Pluit) and one center in Bandung. Children from one to
six years old are able to attend classes run from two to four
hours per day, three to five days per week. Its school fees vary
by location, age group and frequency of attendance, and ranging
from Rp 900,000 (about US$100) to $580 per month

Kinderland, a franchise from Singapore, offers an eclectic
curriculum that is primarily aimed at developing a positive
attitude toward work and learning in children.

"Our balanced curriculum gives the child a good start in
education," said Meera Joseph, the head of Kiderland in
Indonesia.

The core curriculum provided by Kinderland, which has six
centers in Jakarta, includes multi-sensory, thematic, integrated
language and arts programs, and a math alive program that
provides a variety of innovative and stimulating activities that
make math fun, challenging and meaningful to the children.

Meanwhile, pre-school children at Gandhi Memorial
International School (GMIS) are exposed to an international
perspective so that they gradually become aware of and sensitive
toward children from different countries and cultures, and
religious and ethnic backgrounds.

"Cultural diversity makes our children more understanding and
kind towards others. Thus making the world become more peaceful
and friendly," said the school's principal, A.P. Singh.

The GMIS, which was founded in 1950, now has preschools in
Ancol and Kemayoran in North Jakarta. Currently, around 1,700
students from 51 countries attend the school's programs, from
preschool to secondary school.

As an International Baccalaureate school, the GMIS aims to
develop each of its students as a `whole child'. Therefore, its
educational programs are tailored to meet the social, physical,
emotional and cultural needs of every child. "We believe in the
philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, who once said: "By education I mean
drawing out the best from the body, mind and soul of a child.",
Singh said.

He added that children learn to express themselves as they are
encouraged to talk, discuss and ask questions during school
hours. The school also provides many activities, including music.
"Music is a very important component of our preschool. We believe
what Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish writer, namely, that
where words fail, music speaks".

Parents who would like to send their young children to
preschool at the GMIS need to pay an admission fee of $3,500
(payable once only) and enrollment fee of $300 (payable once
only) while the tuition fee is $1,740 per six-month term. They
also need to pay a security deposit of $200 (payable once only)
and a "miscellaneous fee" of $200 (payable annually).