JP/22/U08

JP/22/U08

publication or publicity??

;JP;
ANPAc..r..
Int'l-school-harmony

Promoting peace and harmony among students

Sudibyo M. Wiradji
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

International schools are becoming increasingly popular among
expatriate and local parents not only because of their high
quality of education but also due to the positive cultural values
resulting from their multicultural environments.

In addition to the indisputable quality of their educational
programs, the different nationalities of the students allow them
to become familiar with a multicultural environment, thus helping
them develop a sense of trust and mutual respect.

The British International School's principal, Peter Hoggins,
for instance, said that the school provides a good opportunity
for children from a wide range of religious and cultural
backgrounds to learn about each other.

"A better understanding will hopefully move us towards a more
peaceful and harmonious world," Hoggins said.

Quoting a winner of the Noble Peace Prize, Lester B. Pearson,
he said, "How can the peoples of the world live in peace unless
they know each other?"

To appreciate cultural diversity at secondary level, the
schools hold cultural programs as special events in various
forms, including traditional dance and musical performances from
different nationalities.

At the Gandhi Memorial International School (GMIS), diversity
is considered a strength and a positive value. "The school
encourages students to develop respect and sympathy for other
human beings and their rights regardless of race, religion, creed
or gender," said the GMIS's principal Ashok Pal Singh.

Despite being open to all nationalities, most international
schools in Jakarta saw only small numbers of students from a few
nationalities during the earlier years of their existence.

But as time goes by, the schools have developed into large and
truly international schools embracing more and more
nationalities, including Indonesians.

The Jakarta International School (JIS) was established in
1951, with the students exclusively coming from the United
States, Great Britain and Australia. Currently, the school has 60
nationalities represented in the 2350 student body. The school
was known as the Joint Embassy School until it became the Jakarta
International School in 1971. It was not until 1971 that a senior
high school was added to the existing grades 1-8.

Before evolving into an international school with around 40
nationalities, the GMIS also saw only a few nationalities, mostly
Indians, when it first operated in 1950. It had between 22 and 36
nationalities several years later.

Similarly, the majority of students attending high school at
the BIS were British when the school started operating in Jakarta
in 1973. But the number of nationalities increased from year to
year and currently, there are over 45 nationalities attending the
school.

With an increasing number of nationalities, the schools are
striving to accommodate the differences in religious and cultural
backgrounds. The GMIS, for instance, has a diverse student body
represented by about 40 nationalities.

The differences in religious and cultural backgrounds are
reflected in the schools' activities. At the BIS, students are
encouraged to celebrate different cultures through the marking of
the major events of the world's religions and through school
events such as International Day. "All members of the community
are treated with equality and respect," he said.

Historically, the emergence of the international schools was
closely linked to the existence of embassies in Jakarta. The
schools were established in response to the educational needs of
expatriate parents working as diplomats or UN staff posted to the
capital.

But with the increasing number of expatriate parents residing
temporarily in Indonesia for business or professional reasons,
more expatriate parents from various professional backgrounds
started sending their children to the international schools. The
quality educational programs presented in multicultural
environments has also attracted local parents.

Parents have their own reasons why they choose a particular
international school.

The JIS's Publication Director, William Woodruff, said that
many expat parents chose the JIS because it had a worldwide
reputation of offering high quality education to high school
students.

Woodruff said that the goal of the high school programs was to
provide students with the skills to be self-reliant, contributing
citizens in a complex and a changing world.

The JIS has 921 high school students who started its current
academic year in September 2002.

The high school curriculum focuses on college and university
preparation, offering the International Baccalaureate and
Advanced Placement International diploma.

The JIS has grown rapidly due to the growing demand for a
quality international school in parallel with the growth of the
expat population in Jakarta.

The JIS is managed by an 11-member School Council and elected
parents of JIS students. The JIS is a non-profit, independent
foundation,headed by a board of governors comprised of
representatives of the three founding embassies, America,
Australia and Great Britain.

The GMIS's principal, AP. Singh, said that parents send their
children to the school because they are interested in the
educational system, the cultural values and the ethos of the
school.

"We have a safe and stimulating environment that encourages
students to become compassionate thinkers and life-long
learners," he said, adding:"There is an excellent rapport between
the principal, students, teachers and parents."

Located on Jl. Pangandaran IX, Ancol Barat, North Jakarta, the
GMIS has been set up to educate, motivate and inspire students
and to prepare them to be confident, successful and responsible
citizens of the world. "It offers a high quality, internationally
accredited English language curriculum in a diverse multinational
academy," Singh said.

To ensure the quality of the educational programs, the GMIS
has become affiliated with the International Baccalaureate
Organization and offers a Diploma Program, equivalent to the
third grade of senior high school (SMU 3) and the Cambridge
International Examinations-UK (IGCSE) program.

The school maintains high academic standards through the use
of the International Baccalaureate, Singh said.

The GMIS's curriculum is professionally managed by the
principal through his team of teachers.

Hoggins of the BIS said that parents and children chose the
BIS because "they know our reputation for enabling all students
to achieve their full potential."

"Academic standards are very high and there is emphasis on the
partnership between home and parents," he added.

Currently, the BIS has 400 high school students.

Located near the Serpong toll road, the BIS provides a
British-style education in superb surrounding. It is based on an
18-hectare campus which has outstanding facilities, including an
Olympic size pool.

Older children at the BIS study the International
Baccalaureate Diploma pre-university course. "Students are
encouraged to develop a wide range of skills through a
stimulating curriculum matched to their individual needs, and a
comprehensive extra-curricular activities provide further
opportunities for personal growth," Hoggins said.

The BIS is a 'Yayasan', or foundation, led by a Council of
Trustees who delegate executive responsibility for the
administration of the school to the Board of Governors and the
principal.