The pluses of National Plus schools

The pluses of National Plus schools

Debbie A. Lubis, Contributor, Jakarta

With their international orientation and bilingual classes,
National "Plus" schools have gained wide popularity in Indonesia.

With the approval of the Ministry of National Education over a
decade ago, these schools have provided a learning environment
that meets international education standards for Indonesian as
well as expatriate children and children of mixed Indonesian-
expat marriages.

Like other private schools in Indonesia, the National Plus
schools conform to the same rules: they should be registered and
accredited with the Ministry of National Education.

The National Plus schools usually provide extensive facilities
such as sports facilities, computer laboratories with Internet,
libraries, music rooms and drama rooms.

The "plus" in the National Plus is derived from the use of
English as a medium of instruction and international curriculum
that is applied separately from or in combination with the
Indonesian curriculum.

The National Plus Schools are similar to International Schools
in terms of international accreditation, teaching methodologies,
and internal policies and procedures. But the schools are
slightly different in terms of school fees and subjects learned.

International schools are more flexible in applying a
progressive curriculum while the National Plus schools are
required to teach the Indonesian language, religion and civic
studies.

Indonesians generally make up the majority of students at
National Plus schools, while expatriate students only make up a
small proportion.

Most teachers in the National Plus schools are Indonesians
with a small number of expatriate teachers.
Currently, there are no government rules concerning the
development and recognition of the National Plus concept.

Several private schools claim to be "National Plus" whereas
their standards fall far short of expectations. Some others also
make their own international curriculums but are not inspected or
validated by an external appraiser.

Therefore, the Association of National Plus Schools (ANPS) has
developed a set of seven characteristics to define the expected
attributes of member schools. These include:
- A set of clear policies that have been developed, documented,
published and implemented by the school
- Knowledge of and respect for Indonesian cultural values,
diversity and the natural environment
- Students are educated in, and can communicate using both
Indonesian and English
- A commitment to plan and implement ongoing staff professional
development
- The development and use of national and international learning
outcomes in the curriculum framework
- Educational programs, teaching methodologies and a range of
assessment practices that support student-centered learning.
- An appropriate range of resources and facilities are provided
to achieve the described learning outcomes.

"Our school has met all the mandatory characteristics of
National Plus schools set by the Association of National Plus
School, said Capri Anjaya, the Indonesian Principal of Sekolah
Tiara Bangsa.

The school teaches religions such as Islam and Christianity,
as well as morals and ethics. It also teaches Mandarin.

Located in Raffles Hills, Cimanggis, Tiara Bangsa is
authorized to teach the International Baccalaureate program for
Primary Years Program (PYP) and Middle Years Program (MYP).

It uses ACER and UNSW testing as a benchmark and has
established a partnership with Anglo-Chinese schools in
Singapore.

Students can also join the school choir, orchestra and sports
events. The school has an annual musical production.

Sitting in a class that is no larger than 26 students, every
student in Tiara Bangsa receives individual attention and is
encouraged to do collaborative study.

To help the students appreciate other cultures, the school
also conducts overseas camps. As part of its professional
development program, Tiara Bangsa also provides scholarships for
its teachers and staff to study at overseas universities.

Sekolah Pelita Harapan in Karawaci, Tangerang offers the IB
diploma program, one of the most rigorous and outstanding
university preparation programs in the world.

It is also accredited by the Council of International Schools
(CIS) as well as New England Association of Schools and Colleges
(NEASC).

"The quality control mechanisms of these reputable
organizations means that we have an objective assessment of our
excellence in all areas," said Brian Cox, the school's
headmaster.

The school, a member of the Association of Christian Schools
International (ACSI), aims to be a second home for students in
which they can build good relationships with teachers and feel
free to share their feelings as friends.

In cooperation with Tabor College, Adelaide, the school holds
regular internal training to develop its national and expatriate
teachers' knowledge and teaching skills.

"Our school has international standards in its academic and
extracurricular programs, but we recognize the importance of
local culture and national identity for our students. Therefore,
we develop students' understanding and appreciation of Indonesian
culture, attitudes, character and leadership style," said Cox.

The school's learning technique is inquiry based, which
encourages students to ask many questions, to be good at research
as well as presentation. They have strong academic programs as
well as significant involvement in music, drama, art, debating,
sports and community service.

Students in Sekolah Bina Nusantara (BiNus) can enjoy a school
certificate that is recognized globally by all schools and
tertiary institutions.

BiNus, a candidate school for the International
Baccalaureate's PYP and MYP, also plans to apply for candidacy
status for the Diploma Program (DP) in 2006 to complement the
Curriculum Council of Western Australia's high school curriculum.

The school opened the doors of its Simprug campus to
preschool, elementary and middle school students in July 2003
after operating since July 1998 as a senior high school.

Using 85 percent of instruction in English, the school
provides a learning environment that is supportive and embraces
the Indonesian language, religious and cultural diversity. With a
focus on the positive development of the whole child, students
quickly become increasingly confident and skilled in their use of
English, and increasingly independent and critical in their
thinking and learning.

Language and information technology literacy, communication,
creativity, responsibility, tolerance and compassion are all
given importance by the school.

"Such learning characteristics and values are essential for
later study and for the making of a truly global citizen," said
Gregory C. Mowday, the school's senior principal.

Just as the students are transformed, so is the school by the
students.

"They give it life through their joy and laughter, their
academic and sporting talents, their visual and performing arts
displays and presentations, their community and social service
programs, and through their national and international
accomplishments," he said.

Mowday added that the students made the school what it is
today and what it will be in the future; an innovative, and
progressive educational institution.