Jakarta, Indonesia Report of what it's like to live there - 08/10/10
Personal Experiences from Jakarta, Indonesia
School Name:
Jakarta International School
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
8th - 11th
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2009-2010
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Government
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
Probably.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
Pretty good.There is an "off-site" that kids go to which serves as an ice-breaker.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
There are problems at this school.It has a great reputation built on previous days but is fraught with a myriad of problems; from lack of modern technology, to teachers that are burnt out, to corruption, etc.
2. For the following attributes, down to the next blank box, grade your experience at the school on a scale of A (excellent) to F (unacceptable/terrible) and provide comments:<br><br>Overall fair and equitable treatment of all students and families:
There is definite preferential treatment of those with lots of money.Perhaps this is common but for some reason it is more obvious here.There is a large expat community and in terms of acceptance among students it is good.
3. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
If parents initiate it, fine.Conferences are limited to 10 minutes and are difficult to schedule.Having said that, teachers attempt to accommodate parents during non-conference times.
4. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
Yes.They excel at this I am told.
5. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
Many but some are advertised and there is nothing there!My son wanted to do a club and showed up only to find out it didn't exist.
6. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:
Poor.Given that this school costs over 20,000 USD per year.There are teachers who hand out assignments fraught with spelling errors, there are issues with maintenance of uniformity in testing, there is a mentoring program that works for some and leaves others completely out to fend for themselves.
7. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
Very variable. Completely depends upon the teacher.Some teachers are amazing and excellent and others have been there for more than 10-15 years and should be retired.This is a very sore point at this school.
8. Administration-parent communication:
Very little is done with parental concerns in my opinion. The impression many parents have is that it is best not to voice concerns as nothing is done about them anyway and you want to stay on the "good side" of the administration.
9. Teacher-student communication:
I believe if student initiated, it can be good.But for the shy or reserved student, it can be a problems.
10. Academics, answer the following questions "yes" or "no" with an explanation if appropriate:<br><br>Are there any classes or subjects where students are not appropriately challenged?
Varied.Depends on class/teacher.Some are excellent and would be equivalent to someone found at Deerfield or Exeter or a college.Others are awful and seem to be there for the visa and little else.
11. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:
no
12. Do you believe the special-needs assistance is appropriate and fills your needs? Explain:
I believe this school does NOT have much in the way of assistance for special needs kids.
13. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:
unsure
14. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
Yes.This is definitely a strong suite. Some of these are taught by passionate, excellent teachers as well.
15. Please describe any classes or programs that you believe are missing:
PE for 9th grade is important.Study Skills center to benefit students trying to balance technology with reading and homework would be a welcome and needed addition.Objective, student evaluations of teachers and action based on reviews would be helpful.The nurses office is woefully inadequate for the size of the school.Attempts to look at neighboring countries should take place and a medical unit such as what is available in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Singapore should be emulated.
16. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
Yes.In Middle School there is an experiential learning class that is required yet completely unsubsidized.It can cost up to 900 USD for this class. One of the trips is to Jogyakarta and costs approximately 400 USD per student.More than 50 go.So where does the money go??It is that type of thing that gets parents suspicious.
17. What activities do you feel are missing?
There are many and this is a strong aspect of the school.
18. Have your children participated in the activities offered? If no, please indicate why:
Conflicts with sports, rehearsals, traffic, bus schedules.
19. Does the school provide appropriate assistance to new students?
Yes.
20. Please describe any problem areas or challenges in social interaction at the school:
There are many.There has been a change in administration however and this year may represent substantial improvement.Will reserve comment on this until more is known.
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
Poor guidance department.No resources or study center for smart kids or even average that want to improve study habits.There is a class for parents to assist with college applications but I haven't had the opportunity to take it yet.
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Excellent library but not open long enough for upper class-men to use in evenings.
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
Poor.Should be MUCH better for that price!There is no adequate email system or message board for parents.Incomplete "Powerschool" with minimal applications open so that one cannot check their child's schedule or progress...only attendance.School is PC based and NOT Mac based which is unlike most other international schools.
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
Okay but there is no PE in 9th grade which is a shame.Also there are conflicts for those wanting to do sports AND other club activities.lack of coordination
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
Pretty good most of the time.
6. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
Many and varied.A high point of the school.They do NOT allow AP US History to be taken in 10th grade however which is unlike some of the other international schools in the area.
7. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Depends upon the teacher.I thought it was remarkably little for 8th and 9th graders last year.
8. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
Many BUT there are issues.Last year they hosted an international music festival for the middle school and it was VERY poorly advertised and was under emphasized so the crowd/audience was minimal.
9. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
I believe so.All do.
10. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
no
11. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
Yes but some are not filled and there is no attempt to assure there are not conflicts with the sports program.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
Not enough.There is little school spirit and students are not encouraged to attend varsity or JV games.Dances are a joke.They begin at 6 and end at 8 pm! There is not enough involvement on the part of the school in evening activities for teens.
2. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
Perhaps but I am not aware of anything egregious.
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
When you get a good teacher, and they are passionate, the education is great.When you get one of the old-timers that cannot use technology or spell but is "nice"...it is AWFUL.
2. Greatest challenge?
Getting tough about teacher qualifications and performance!In Asia, people tend to roll over too easy and not hit these issues head on.If you are paying 20 K for secondary school....You had better be a squeaky wheel and insist upon top quality.
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
Probably not.The reputation is greater than the good delivered.The cost is extraordinary for this third world, developing country.Again, things may improve but some major changes, staff evaluation and auditing and financial audits are needed.
