INTERNATIONAL school market in Indonesia continues growing from time to time. Generally, international school is a school who adopted international curriculum that uses English language for interaction. Bahasa only used if you have Bahasa lessons. If 80% of their students are foreign citizens, the school was called the foreign school.
In Indonesia, many foreign schools that represent a specific country such as the British International School, Australian International School, New Zealand International School, German International School, etc. And, the curriculum is used in accordance with their home country.
When an international school using the curriculum, there is not only the lesson, but also teachers, learning, and basic facilities must be accredited according to international systems or international standard curriculum. Thus, graduates will be recognized internationally, so that they can continue their school anywhere in the school that used the same curriculum. No need to test the equality or adjustment, as applies to students from the school with a different curriculum system. However, if you want to go to public schools in Indonesia, graduates must also pass a national exam.
The word “international” is often slipped in the title, clearly to strengthen that particular school’s reputation as adhering to international standards. Most of these schools have adopted international curriculum, providing programs for the International Baccalaureate or similar certifications. There are two popular systems curriculum used in schools in Indonesia. Namely the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge International Examinations (cie). Both curriculums are to spread all over the world because there are many schools that want to adopt and gain global recognition.
Although schools in some countries already has its own curriculum, but there is not possible of using the IB schools and cie. Generally, these schools offer excellent facilities, such as air-conditioned classrooms, Olympic-standard swimming pools and Wi-fi Internet connections. Today, the number of international schools in the city of Indonesia further increased. International schools are mostly located in big cities like Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya.
In Jakarta, The British International School (BIS) is one of the largest private international schools. BIS is a international member of the headmasters and Headmistresses Conference (HMC). It was first established in Jakarta in 1973 under the auspices of the British Embassy. The school offers classes for students from pre-school to year 13 based on a British curriculum, with the final two years covered by the International Baccalaureate diploma program.
BIS Facilities are mostly air-conditioned and include cafeterias, tennis courts, gymnasiums, playing fields, swimming pools, science laboratories, computer laboratories, a design technology facility, libraries, even an indoor rock climbing gym. BIS also had extensive computing facilities which include several suites of networked PC and Macs. The school has invested heavily in recent years on improving its ICT provision.
The Australian International School (AIS) also located in Jakarta. AIS is a private school offering education to students from Pre-school to Secondary school. AIS followed the Australian national curriculum and the Australian school year (January to December). The school also has campuses located in Bali. The Bali School is located 30 minutes from Denpasar and Kuta. Meanwhile, The Jakarta Schools are in the leafy suburbs of Kemang and Pejaten in South Jakarta, less than 30 minutes from most expatriate living areas.
One of the famous international school located in Jakarta is Gandhi Memorial School (GMIS). The school is a dynamic learning community, propagates lifelong learning and responsible citizenship through a challenging, multidisciplinary, internationally transferable curriculum fulfilling the diverse needs of students.
GMIS is a truly multicultural international school. The School had chosen to become an IB World School and have been authorized since 1996 to offer the IB Diploma Programme. GMIS also authorized to offer the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and IB Middle Years Programme (MYP).
Meanwhile, Surabaya International School (SIS) is also one of the rising star for international school in East Java. SIS first opened its doors for students aspiring to an international based education in 1971. The school has resided in its beautiful state-of-the-art facilities in Citra Raya since 1995.
SIS is the only school in Surabaya certified by an accrediting agency of the United States. For highly motivated students, SIS offers the competitive Advanced Placement (AP) program. Success in this program could provide students with “advanced standing” at university, thus saving parents as much as one year’s tuition.
In West Java area, Bandung Alliance International School (BAIS) is one of Indonesia’s oldest international schools, has equipped its students to be ready for life’s challenges throughout its 50 year history. BAIS provides a quality education which prepares students for the challenges of the 21st century by allowing them to realize their full potential. The school has many social events for parents, teachers, and children to get to know each other.
BAIS is a member of the Network of International Christian Schools (NICS). NICS, headquartered in the United States, operates schools around the world. BAIS is a member in good standing with the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS), The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
BAIS students and teachers represent many different nationalities. Even though school enrollment continues to grow, it still offers small classes and individual attention to students in classrooms with low teacher to student ratios. (Fitri Kuswari)
Jakarta Globe, May 08, 2009
