On national plus schools

While I generally read Simon Gower's frequent articles in The Jakarta Post with mild interest, I was somewhat incredulous at some of the comments made in his most recent article RI's schools should target higher standards (the Post, Nov. 15).

For him to suggest that "national plus" schools operate within their own social microcosm isolated from Indonesian education and society is both ill-informed and totally at odds with reality of national plus education.

The suggestion that students of national plus schools forego their commitment to and respect for their own heritage as a price to pay for an international education in ludicrous and reflects a total lack of understanding on Gower's part of what it means to be a national plus school. The inclusion of the Indonesian curriculum is an essential element of our academic program and the celebration of Indonesian historical, cultural and ethnic diversity is an integral part of the school's calendar.

Equally, the suggestion by Gower that national plus schools are socially isolated and inward looking reflects a lack of awareness of the understanding that is inherent in our students that knowledge is not limited to classrooms and textbooks. Our students are globally oriented in their acquisition of knowledge and are encouraged to use local regional, national and international sources at every opportunity.

Finally, Gower suggests that Indonesian graduates from national plus schools with a foreign curriculum might be viewed "with skepticism" when applying for international tertiary entrance. The 270 graduates from Bina Nusantara who have entered universities and colleges in 16 different countries, including Indonesia, over the past four years without any difficulty would suggest that he is wrong.

I would suggest that Gower takes himself from behind his computer and visits a number of national plus schools in order to determine for himself the exemplary practice that is seeking to advance, not hinder, Indonesian education.

GREGORY C. MOWDAY Senior Principal Sekolah Bina Nusantara Jakarta