New Regulations Mean Schools Do not want to Hire Expatriate Teachers

[markustm]

I hate to throw a spanner in the works but obviously the news that Nat-Plus and International schools in Indonesia are in crisis has not reached the teaching community. The Indonesian education system is being revamped this year.

If an International school does not have a mother School outside Indonesia, then basically the licence will be taken away, and the only option the school has is to become a National standard school that hires a majority of Indonesians who teach national curriculum subjects in Bahasa.

This sudden change means all Indonesian- born students have to take national examinations, all Schools have to have an Indonesian principal, and the majority of teachers have to be locals.

One reason why there are no current vacancies in Nat-plus schools or International Schools, is that many schools currently are "over-staffed" with foreign teachers. Many of these teachers are going to be laid off by the middle of the year.

"International" Schools with Indonesian names (AKA- Cirebon International) , have no chance of finding a mother school outside Indonesia, so my guess is if the Ministry of Education enforce these new rules. They and other aptly named "Indonesian" sounding International Schools are soon to be history.

Other Nat-plus schools that hire a mixture of foreign expatriates, will have to lay off the majority of their staff as well. As there only option is to become a National Standard school, which needs to be by law to be run by an Indonesian principal, and have over 90% Indonesian staff.

Its not you, its the changeover into a new school system which encourages the training and hiring of indonesian managers, and teachers instead of cleaners and secretaries. Ensuring all Indonesian-born students do study the national curriculum, instead of avoiding it, and guarantees students are taught by overseas teachers in the subject they are qualified (Non-natives cannot teach english anymore or teachers cannot legally teach subjexcts they are not qualified in).

The good news is that overseas schools can now open here, like for example high end brand schools like Cambridge Uk, Princetown or Eton, can obtain a licence to teach International kids, and own the school 100%. But until that happens, there is gping to be disarray in the current system here.

Maybe because of this change, it is better to consider the Middle East as an option until this new system is implemented, and schools should hire qualified native expatriates again. Otherwise the only options out there are backpacker outfits like EF.

I am interested to see if you have any comments about this.....

[kingwilly]

Hi Mark.

Some interesting points you make. Worthy of it's on thread I would think.

Firstly, DEPDIKNAS and the new minister for Education have been making all sorts of new rules and statements. Some of which will take effect, some of which will not.

I seriously doubt that all the National plus and International schools will fire the majority of the expat teachers by the middle of next year.

I certainly have not heard about schools losing their licenses either, the interpretation that we have been given is that the Indonesian born students that want to go to local universities must do the local exams, but if they are headed O/S then these new regulations will not effect them.

Its not you, its the changeover into a new school system which encourages the training and hiring of indonesian managers, and teachers instead of cleaners and secretaries. Ensuring all Indonesian-born students do study the national curriculum, instead of avoiding it, and guarantees students are taught by overseas teachers in the subject they are qualified (Non-natives cannot teach english anymore or teachers cannot legally teach subjexcts they are not qualified in).

This is an excellent concept and aim, the reality is that there are very few good Indonesian teachers, studying the local curriculum and going through local teaching college prepares theses teachers for nothing, absolutely nada, they come out of teachers college indoctrinated in a 1930's style of learning and teaching, have you ever considered why Indonesian students rarely question their teacher of have trouble with critical thinking or analysis. Our expats are already qualified, its the Indonesian staff that we need to improve.

Your post has a slightly hysterical note to it, no doubt this will become quite a thread.

[mattyboy43]

I'm curious as to the source of your information Mark

[atlantis]

I'm curious as to the source of your information Mark

The OP is refering to the Peraturan Menteri Pendidikan Nasional RI nomor 78 tahun 2009 tentang penyelanggaraan sekolah bertaraf internasional pada jenjang pendidikan dasar dan menengah. It has been legalised in late 2009 and among other stipulations, it requires that the foreign staff in SBI (International school) does not exceed 30% and that the foreign teachers all are fluent in bahasa indonesia. It also requires that the kepala sekolah be Indonesian, with a S2 diploma minimum and with a TOEFL score superior at 7,5 (same condition of result applies to any would be student).
Trully a regulation that my friend Andy would enjoy to read...

[Hombre de Maiz]

I´d like to ask the professionals, what are the merits of the "National Curriculum"? Is this something I would want to subject my child´s mind to?

[kingwilly]

I´d like to ask the professionals, what are the merits of the "National Curriculum"? Is this something I would want to subject my child´s mind to?

Merits?

There are none.

It is rote learning. and more rote learning, and a little bit more.

Words, names, places.

Exams are horrendous. multiple choice, riddled with mistakes, corruption ridden.

There is little or no coherency or scaffolding through out the scope and sequence.


Simple answer, no.

[Hombre de Maiz]

Plus, let me guess, a lot of Pancasilaist mumbo-jumbo and the official story of the Indonesian nation, right?

[kingwilly]

that too.

[Momma Mia]

Merits?

There are none.

It is rote learning. and more rote learning, and a little bit more.

Words, names, places.

Exams are horrendous. multiple choice, riddled with mistakes, corruption ridden.

There is little or no coherency or scaffolding through out the scope and sequence.


Simple answer, no.

Plus, let me guess, a lot of Pancasilaist mumbo-jumbo and the official story of the Indonesian nation, right?

Sorry for jumping in here with this as my first post, but isn't nationalistic mumbo jumbo and the official story of the ....... nation exactly the same as many American schools?

I'm not sure I see to much wrong with a bit of Nationalism tho'. You also have to decide what your child is, ber-dwikewarganegaraan or single nationality? If single, then make sure your pocket book matches with your expectations if you intend to make Indonesia your home, because your choice will be quite limited otherwise. There aren't many non-faith schools that provide International standard education (interesting post here about exemptions of development fee for "spiritual leaders" which clarifies why my child's maths teacher sometimes says "shit" and "bollocks" despite supposedly being "Christian".


I note the comment about Indonesian national exams being full of mistakes and riddled with corruption, sounds rather like many so called International schools that I have seen, since when did and IS student ever fail to "naik class"? That would never do at 25K or so a year for some of the "better" ones.

Rote learning? ah the current fashionable phrase amongst the teaching brotherhood to try and prove that they provide anything different. Truth is up to O level or equiv, a partially sighted monkey can be taught to pass the exams, particularly now the dumbing down has taken place.

"Your post has a slightly hysterical note to it, no doubt this will become quite a thread. " is a super line, and the hysteria has already started, time to learn the key concepts of Pancasila rather than Asusila, and also to take a course in the National Language.

"This sudden change means all Indonesian- born students have to take national examinations, all Schools have to have an Indonesian principal, and the majority of teachers have to be locals.", I'd like to ask the OP more on this, and will download the PerMen in due course, but does this also mean children who hold dual citizenship? I can see a wave of revocations of green passports and applications for KITAS if that is the case.

"I certainly have not heard about schools losing their licenses either, the interpretation that we have been given is that the Indonesian born students that want to go to local universities must do the local exams, but if they are headed O/S then these new regulations will not effect them." - So you had already heard about it? Will it hurt true International Schools or just National Plus bertaraf/berstandard International?

I see a super business opportunity opening overseas school branches.
Look forward to hearing from the OP regarding this.

[kingwilly]

I note the comment about Indonesian national exams being full of mistakes and riddled with corruption, sounds rather like many so called International schools that I have seen, since when did and IS student ever fail to "naik class"? That would never do at 25K or so a year for some of the "better" ones.

There is a huge difference between a good international school ensuring via methods of coercion, remedial classes, parental meetings, student contracts etc that a student does not fail (and plenty still do) and the national exams where cheating and corruption are rampant, it is disingenuous of you to suggest otherwise.

I see a super business opportunity opening overseas school branches.

That reminds me, the OP suggested the the 'branded' schools are opening overseas campuses here. Actually, the reality is that they are little more than money making franchises.