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Indeed parents in Jakarta are now able to reflect upon and capitalise on the availability of better alternatives for their children. One parent recently discussed how his sons now have educational opportunities that were simply not there when he was growing up. Having worked hard in school and been fortunate enough to earn a scholarship overseas this parent had experienced firsthand the difference between "traditional and directive Indonesian education" and a more open and "stimulating education, based on a Western model."
For him it was and is a great relief that he can now send his children to a school in Jakarta that more closely matches his later educational experiences and his own hopes and aspirations for the education of his children. So, in what form does this "different model" for education come in within Jakarta?
There are effectively two significant sectors of schools and schooling that have emerged relatively recently that provide these alternative models of education for Indonesian people. At perhaps the highest level are the numerous international schools that are
now situated all over Jakarta.
In addition to the international schools there is the further sector of schools–national plus schools– which has also been growing at a very significant rate. Similar to international schools, these schools tend to target the teaching of the majority of the subjects in English. Often a kind of mixed curriculum is adopted that utilises overseas sources for curricula and combines them with Indonesian aspects and content.
Both of these sectors are consistently more expensive options for schooling and regrettably this may mean that for the majority of Indonesians they are an option which remains beyond their reach unless there are sufficient scholarship programs being offered.
But even if these schools are often beyond the reach of "ordinary Indonesians", there is another positive benefit that can emerge from their presence here. This we could perhaps describe as a "trickle down" effect.
In this way it can be seen that the presence of a more "international" model of education within Indonesia is having a "trickle down" or perhaps knock-on domino effect.
The chances that teachers get to learn and develop in such schools are considerable and almost inevitably they will and do share their learning and development with others. There is a real sense in which a model of "on-the- job training" is happening here and this is both reasonable and appropriate.
It is reasonable and appropriate that teachers be learners; then and perhaps only then are they really teachers. Developing and progressive schools clearly set up opportunities for teachers to learn and advance learning and education in Indonesia. It is to be hoped that this learning and development can become even more widespread.
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welcome....thanks
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