'National Plus' schools require close monitoring

'National Plus' schools require close monitoring

Debbie A. Lubis, Contributor, Jakarta

The mushrooming of "National Plus" schools in big cities has
demonstrated an increasing awareness of the importance of quality
education.

However, the government should also monitor such quality
education, an expert said.

Sutjipto, the Rector of Jakarta National University --
formerly Teacher's Training College (IKIP) -- said the emergence
of world-class schools can be regarded not merely as a sign of
improvement in educational system but also as a sign of the
inability of the local scholastic system to keep up with an ever
changing world.

"National-plus schools have curriculums that are no longer
just national in nature, but are based on international
standards. That represents progress," he said.

Sutjipto, however, warned that not all schools that claim to
use an international curriculum can provide the quality of
education they promise.

"There should be clear standard for such international or
National Plus schools," he added. Sutjipto is also sees the need
for sanctions and penalties for those schools that fail to meet
required standards.

Both international and National Plus schools use English as
the language of instruction. Some international schools only
accept students of a particular nationality, while others are
open to certain percentage of local students, allowing for a
multicultural learning environment.

Many international schools, like the Australian
International School (AIS), the Singapore International School
(SIS) and the New Zealand International School (NZIS), take their
curriculum from their respective national curriculums.

However, a majority of international schools including
the Jakarta International School (JIS), the British International
School (BIS), and the Gandhi Memorial International School (GMIS)
and National Plus schools such as Sekolah Tiara Bangsa and
Sekolah Pelita Harapan, adopt curriculum set by the Geneva-based
International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization.

The British International School (BIS) follows the British
National Curriculum for levels pre-school to GCSE (years 10 and
11). The IB program is offered for years 12 and 13.

The IB programs are comprised of a Primary Years Program (PYP)
for students aged 3 to 12 years; a Middle Years Program (MYP) for
those aged 13 to 16; and an I.B. Diploma for students 17 to 18
years old.

Unlike international schools, National Plus schools should be
accredited by the Ministry of Education and fulfill its curricula
and policy requirements.

Capri Anjaya, an executive of the Association
of National-Plus Schools, said that up to now, the government was
still in the process of developing rules and characteristics for
National Plus Schools.

"As far as I know, the procedures for establishing a National
Plus school are the same as those to establish a private national
school in Indonesia. Some schools that are just starting up may
not even tell the government that they are going to be the
National Plus type," said Capri, who is also the coordinating
Indonesian principal of Sekolah Tiara Bangsa.

She said that many private Indonesian schools call themselves
National-Plus schools. Since there is no policy from the
government as yet regarding National Plus schools, the
association tries to set clear requirements and develop criteria
for accreditation.

"Of the 40 National-Plus schools registered with the
National Plus Schools Association, not all of them
meet the criteria," Capri added

The Association of National Plus Schools (ANPS) has formulated
a set of characteristics for National Plus schools. First of all,
there should be clear policies and procedures in the teaching and
learning process. A National Plus school, for example, should
respect Indonesian cultural values, diversity and the natural
environment. Bahasa Indonesia, Religion and Civics must,
therefore, be taught.

Students should be able to communicate in Indonesian and
English (especially in core subjects like English, Mathematics
and Science). The school must have a commitment to professional
development and must develop and use national and international
learning outcomes.

Meanwhile, educational programs, teaching methodologies and a
range of assessment practices should support student-centered
learning. Lastly, there should be a range of resources and
facilities.

Each of the characteristics is elaborated with some mandatory
and developing indicators that determine categories of school
accreditation set by ANPS.

According to Capri, the National Plus school can be classified
into A, B, C and P categories.

Category A is awarded to National Plus schools that meet all
the mandatory and developing indicators while category B is for
schools meeting all of the mandatory and 50 percent of developing
indicators.

Schools that meet all mandatory indicators but less than 50
percent of developing indicators belong to Category C, while
schools that provide documentary evidence that they are working
towards meeting all of the mandatory indicators belong to
Category P ("Provisional" accreditation).

Meanwhile, Sutjipto said that the high tuition fees charged by
international or National Plus schools are proportionate to the
quality of services and facilities they provide.

Most National Plus schools are well equipped with libraries,
laboratories, internet, music rooms, drama rooms as well as art
and sport facilities.

"And most importantly, teachers are properly paid and well-
developed so that they can concentrate on educating children.
Here in Indonesia, we may make changes in curriculum but it
cannot be implemented if other supporting factors are not
running well, especially teachers' welfare."

"At Sekolah Pelita Harapan, students are challenged and
equipped to use their abilities to assist the development of this
country," said Brian Cox, an academic counselor at Sekolah Pelita
Harapan.

He said that students of a National Plus school are taught by
teachers from around the world and from Indonesia. "They also
receive an international education as well as a good
understanding and appreciation of Indonesian culture."

Sekolah Pelita Harapan is an Early Childhood through
grade 12 National Plus School founded in 1992. Its curriculum is
based on the IB programs that prepare students for post-secondary
education within Indonesia and overseas.

Sutjipto expressed the hope that world-class schools would
cooperate with local schools so that their students would be
stimulated to gain wider horizon and have higher motivation.

"Reading is not part of the culture in many small schools,
especially those in rural areas. I hope those schools can help
teachers encourage the students to develop such a culture."

Sekolah Tiara Bangsa is a National Plus and IB school that has
given assistance to local schools through its community service
programs. The school director, Daryl Forde, said that the school
often invited teachers from local schools to attend its
educational seminars, and also invited local students to see
Tiara Bangsa art performances.

The Parents' Association has also established bilingual
pictorial books to be distributed to local schools.