Rigid management by LIA

Rigid management by LIA

From Kompas

My child joined recently an English language course organized by the Indonesian-American Institute Foundation (YLIA) and passed the Intermediate 1 level at LIA on Jl. Pramuka.

During the following semester, the teacher told my child that she should move to LIA in Kelapa Gading because she was still in junior high school. The teacher said there was no place at LIA Jl. Pramuka for junior high students. Not satisfied with the explanation she went with her sister to see the course manager. No result. She had to leave because she was still in junior high.

My child argued that the course was not a junior high school course but an English-language course where placement is determined by language skills and not by the class in a formal school.

I am astonished that an English language course is governed by a student's level in formal schooling. If this is their rule, I suggest the course be made a junior high school one, a senior high school one, etc. Do not call it an English-language course. For such a course, the reference is the aptitude in the English language.

I see that the management and its regulations are extremely rigid. It stops students from making quicker progress. If a private institute is so inflexible, when can this country make progress? There will be more and more achievement-oriented people who are hampered just because of the rigidity on the part of the management and its regulations that are not in accordance with the objectives.

When will this country catch up with its neighboring countries at international fora if even the private sector is so rigid?

H. TABRANY

Jakarta