Pros of attending international school outweigh cons

Pros of attending international school outweigh cons

David Kennedy, Contributor, Jakarta

Dr. Niall Nelson is a long-term resident of Jakarta and a prominent figure in the expatriate community. Born in Dublin, the Irishman managed schools in countries as diverse as Russia, Tanzania, Italy and Libya, before moving to Jakarta over a decade ago to take up the reins as Headmaster at Jakarta International School (JIS).

Not content with a prestigious academic career alone, Dr. Nelson has also been active in the diplomatic arena since 1996, representing the Republic of Ireland in Indonesia as Honorary Consul.

He spoke recently to The Jakarta Post about the international school and his experience in running JIS.

Question: You have been Headmaster of Jakarta International School for over ten years. How has the school changed during this time? Answer: Well, in my first years here, we expanded the school as the expatriate population increased. Between 1991 and 1997, there were about 100 new students coming into the school each year, and numbers grew to 3,100. We added extra facilities and increased our capacity to take in more students.

However, the combination of the exodus of expatriates and the economic downturn in 1997 and 1998 meant we had to become more flexible in how we operated the school. We lost over 1,000 students, so we were overstaffed for a while. It was difficult to predict what resources would be needed.

The school closed for almost two weeks last November due to concerns about a possible terrorist threat in the wake of the Bali bombings. Do you still have heightened security measures?

Yes, we have kept heightened security measures in place. I should say that the government and police authorities have been very helpful and they continue to provide support. We are very pleased with the relationship.

Some foreign press reports controversially claimed there was a far greater direct threat to the school at the time. What is your view of the press handling of the situation?

The approach of the press was variable. I do have my own views on this, but I don't want to get into a mud-slinging match. The media have their jobs to do, and sometimes it coincides with the concerns of people on the ground; other times, it does not.

What challenges do expatriate children face in adjusting to life in Indonesia, and how are they affected by not being integrated into a national school system?

It's very hard to generalize about such a large group, but a lot of the students have spent much of their lives in international schools. It's a fairly mobile population. We have the advantage of being a large school. That means we can break students up into small groups and provide them with a good orientation.

My own view is that the benefits of attending an international school far outweigh the disadvantages. They (the students) are exposed to other nationalities and language groups, and one of the key factors for success in adulthood is your ability to communicate with people from different backgrounds.

Our school curriculum draws from the best national curriculums we can find, and students prepare for the International Baccalaureate, which gives them access to universities around the world.

Extracurricular activities are also well catered for. We are particularly strong in the visual arts, drama and debate, and there is always a performance of some kind being organized.

How would you compare the concerns of expatriates in Indonesia today in terms of security and the impending war on Iraq, with their concerns in 1998?

There are some similarities. I think the main difference is that in 1998, things developed fairly quickly and there were actual events on the ground and rioting that caused people to have immediate concerns, and that led to the evacuation.

Today, the concerns are more geopolitical. Indonesia is one part of a wider world stage, and people now weigh up their prospects and decisions against uncertainties which exist in other places as well.

The major difference is that (back) then, events were very locally focused. Recent events are part of a much broader landscape.

Indonesia is one part of a world drama. I think there is a greater realization of the context within which Indonesia is operating, and the relationship between Indonesia and world events.

One important thing to mention, though, is that expatriates are always struck by how welcoming and courteous Indonesians are to foreigners. That is an important reason why so many expatriates choose to stay here.

You are the Honorary Irish Consul. What does that entail, and why does Ireland not have a full embassy here?

It's not for negative reasons that there is no embassy here. Being a small nation, Ireland lacks the capacity to have embassies in every country. The consulate here works under the auspices of the Irish embassies in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. I act as the connection between Jakarta, Dublin and Irish embassies in the region.

Essentially, my role is to act as a locum, providing consular services to Irish citizens and processing visas for Indonesian citizens. Quite a few Indonesians travel to Ireland on business and for banking seminars, or to explore investment opportunities.

Are there visa restrictions or other delays for Indonesian citizens wishing to travel there at the moment?

We do not differentiate between Indonesians and other nationalities. The applications I receive are processed in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and Dublin in the same way as for citizens of other countries.

The length of time to issue a visa varies, though it normally takes three or four weeks. We advise anyone planning to travel to make an application as early as possible.

There seems to be some trade in Irish pubs. Which is your favorite in Jakarta?

There are a couple of Irish pubs in hotels in the city. I know how Irish they are, but of course I cannot comment on them. Headmasters don't go to pubs!

Not even to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, the Irish national day?

We have a St. Patrick's Society that meets every month and organizes various cultural events. We usually organize a St. Patrick's Day ball in March each year and bring out traditional dancers and musicians from Ireland.