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.