WHY (NOT) INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

A. CHAEDAR ALWASILAH

THE JAKARTA POST NOVEMBER 9, 2008.

REVIEW BY INGGY YULIANI PRIBADY 0805980 (NOVEMBER 24, 2008)

In the era of globalization, competition among the experts become higher

and higher. The competition is called global competition, which the competitors
come from many countries in the earth. Indonesia as a big country has to be able to
compete with the other countries; therefore preparing the human resources
through the mending of education quality is one of our government efforts.

The establishment of International Standard School is the

implementation of the government objective to increase the quality of
education. The implementation of international standard school based on
fourth pillar of education: learning to know, learning to do, learning to live
together, and learning to be. It is interpreted into the teaching methodology,
which is known as contextual learning (CTL). Contextual learning can create
an innovative, observer, critical, creative, and independent students through
its seven components constructivism, questioning, inquiry, reflection,
learning community, modeling and authentic assessment.

Contextual learning is employed in International standard class based

on ICT assisted learning and English as the main language to deliver
teaching materials, especially for math and science. English is also used to
communicate outside the class and to develop all of students’ intelligences
and as a media for cross – culture understanding. (National Education
Ministry Law NO. 23 / 2006)
From the illustration above it is clear that our international school
interpretation is using English as a medium of instruction which Alwasilah stated as
the second interperetation of international school on his article in Jakarata Post.
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 According to Alwasilah we should develop quality education without
marginalizing the national language. What makes a school international is its
quality, not the other way around. Alwasilah stated that there are three prequisites
of quality schooling: academic rigor, high expectation and expert teachers.

In my opinion according to my experience as a teacher of international

standard school pioneer (Rintisan Sekolah Berstandar Internasional – SMP Negeri 2
Bandung) , the implementation of RSBI is not supported by the adequate facilities
and human resources. International school means high cost because the directorate
demands the school to use ICT as the teaching- learning media meanwhile
according to Law No. 48, the school can not involve students’ parents to participate
in school fund. The block grant from the government for RSBI is not sufficient to
conduct all of the programs and up till now some of the RSBI schools haven’t
received the grant.
The teachers especially math and science teachers are required to deliver
the teaching materials in English. In a short time they have to learn English and like
a magic in a fairy tale story, they try to English in Teaching – learning process in
their insufficient ability in speaking English.It sets a worriness among math and
science teachers that the concept of science and math will not delivered clearly.
Based on those illustrations, I agree that the primary objectives in
international school is the quality, therefore the process of teaching and learning at
international school should be emphasized on :
1. International education philosophy
2. International teaching materials
3. Internatonal culture of teaching – learning process
4. International facilities
5. Professional management
6. Qualified teachers
7. The pride of our own culture
8. Innovations to find our national characteristics
Teachers deliver their teaching materials in Bahasa Indonesia to convey the
teaching concept clearly and to embed the pride of national language to the

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students.Meanwhile, students can enhance their English ability in their English
class.
The teachers should have a curiosity and a thirst for new knowledge.
The teachers should understand the global issue and have to link it with their
teaching materials. Teachers should develop Indonesian value and belief to
make the Indonesian cultural International school comes true.

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