Within
large cities in Indonesia you will find a wide variety of preschool
options for your young children. From informal play groups with friends,
to neighborhood kindergartens (taman kanak-kanak or TK), to international standard preschools - your needs will be met.
Some
preschools organize Moms and Tots programs for 1-2 year olds who are
preparing to enter a preschool program. There are also many
extracurricular activities, including physical play, music, art and
other social opportunities for young children which are organized by
community organizations or through commercial entities.
Language
Principal and Teaching Staffs
What's
most important is to find the preschool experience that you feel is
most appropriate for your child. If you are looking for a more Asian
academic setting to prepare for elementary school or an open experience
and creative play orientation, there is a school that will match your
requirements.
Indonesian TK
Indonesian
preschools and kindergartens (TK) are licensed by the Department of
Education and Culture. They must follow a standard curriculum, set by
the Department, which prepares children for entry into the Indonesian
school system. These schools are attended primarily by Indonesian
children and instruction is conducted in the Indonesian language. As the
Indonesian school system emphasizes academic skills and pushes children
to be able to write before they enter the first grade, TK instruction
puts a great emphasis on the forming of letters and copying of words.
Due
to the limited facilities available and the need to follow the official
curriculum, there is not much time for or emphasis on creative play and
freedom to explore for the children. Mobility of the children is
limited.
With
the high percentage of middle and upper class Indonesia children raised
by nannies, TK is often seen as the place where children learn to feed
and care for themselves and begin on the road to independence. If a
large block of the school day is set aside for eating, it should be
clear that teaching the children to feed themselves (even at age 4 or 5)
is a priority at the school.
International School
There
are a number of excellent preschools owned and run by professionals in
early childhood education. While not all may have immediately
recognizable 'franchise names', the curriculum, facilities and training
are of international standard.
A
number of internationally franchised preschools are also found in
Indonesia following American, British, Australian or other international
education philosophy. Their prices are generally higher than local
schools as they must pay a foreign currency franchise fee.
While
they have the advantage of a set curriculum and assistance in choosing
educational toys, materials and facilities, these schools are only as
good as the philosophy and training of their teachers and principal.
Franchises can be purchased, but good teachers must be trained.
A
major concern in preschool education will be the language of
instruction. While the majority of international preschools profess to
conduct their activities in English, the mixture of the children's
nationalities may lead to some interesting scenarios.
If
the children at the school are predominantly Korean, for example, the
curriculum may be a mix of Korean and English. If the teachers in an
English preschool are not truly fluent in English, you may also find
your child learning Indonesian at preschool.
On
a visit to a potential school, wander though the classrooms and listen
not only to the teacher, but to the children and see what language or
languages they are using.
Indonesian
law does not allow the hiring of expatriate teachers in preschools that
are not affiliated with international schools. However, many preschools
have informal expatriate advisors who are experienced in
early childhood education and have assisted the school in developing
curriculum and training teachers.
If
the school says they have expatriate teachers or leaders, ask how much
time those persons actually spend at the school and how much interaction
they have with the children. Inquire into their nationality, so that
you could access the influences their background may have on curriculum
and teaching styles.
While
the formal education of the teachers is important, even more important
is the experience they have had since completing their formal education.
Ask what other preschools they have worked for, who they have trained
under in their previous teaching jobs and how much time is spent on
training the teachers in early childhood development at the present
employer's.
Location
While
the 'perfect' school for your child may not be conveniently located in
relation to your home, you may find an alternative good school where the
location won't necessitate a lot of time spent transporting your child.
The convenience of the location may outweigh other factors.
Is
access to the school yard restricted? Is the gate locked or manned by a
watchman to ensure that the gate is never left open? What is the drop
off and pick up policy of the school? Is there a system for identifying
which persons are allowed to pick up your child? Inquire into the schools policies and procedures when a child is injured, becomes sick or emergency care is needed.
Location
Not
to be ignored is the actual location of the school in proximity to your
residence. Driving by the area on a Sunday afternoon is not indicative
of what traffic patterns will be like during the week.
Will
your child have to ride through rush-hour traffic to get to school each
morning or can you find a good school closer to home? Try timing the
run to the school in the morning rush hour and see how long it takes. If
the school is located near a major intersection, near a market or other
large school, traffic may be a major problem at drop off and pick up
times.
Safety and Security
Inquire
about the safety procedures followed at the school. What is the
situation in front of the school at drop off and pick up times? I sit
chaotic or organized - with a clear emphasis on the safety of the
children as they enter and exit the school grounds?
Discipline
A
concern of all parents, especially of small children, is how their
child will be disciplined. Discuss the discipline policies with the
principal and teachers. Ask a lot of . What if .... questions to see how
the staff would respond in situations you know your child may get into.
Transportation
Common
discipline methods in Indonesian schools are: twisting of ears, rapping
of knuckles with a ruler, tape over the mouth, scaring the child or
having movement restricted in some way. Ask the teachers what methods
they use to discipline unruly or inattentive children. Constructive
discipline methods could include redirection (getting the child
interested in another activity) and time-out (giving the child a few
minutes to settle down and collect him/herself) before returning to the
group.
A
total lack of any discipline or direction can also create a chaotic
situation in the classroom, so a creative, caring response on the part
of teachers can enhance the positive social and educational aspects for
children.
Ask
if the school has an open door policy whereby parents are welcome to
stop by when they want to see the progress and interaction of their
child for themselves. A school that has nothing to hide will welcome
your interest.
Ask
if the school conducts a routine assessment of the children so that you
can learn in which areas your child is progressing within normal
standards and where your child may need extra attention at home.
Some
preschools provide transportation within a limited area nearby the
school. If you are interested in assistance with transporting your
child, ask about those services. See the van or bus that is used for
transportation to determine if it is safe. Take a test run with the
regular driver to see what his driving habits are.
Cost of Preschool in Indonesia
Just
as wide as the range of schooling options ... are the pricing options
for preschool education. A neighborhood Indonesian TK will cost several
million rupiah to enter, and up to Rp 500,000/month for school fees.
International standard preschools can cost up to $6,000/year.
Preschools
that are affiliated with the larger international schools may impose a
Capital Levy as an entrance requirement. This could be a large sum of
money, so be sure to inquire about special levies as well as the
monthly/annual fees.
Since
the cost of international standard preschools is high, ask your
sponsoring company if they will cover the cost of preschool for your
young children - some companies will and some won't. If you are paying
for the schooling yourself, the cost becomes more of an issue. While
some good international standard preschools charge in US dollars, they
may have the dollars pegged to a rupiah exchange rate that is lower than
the market value. These pricing schemes change frequently, so if your
initial inquiry and your actual registration cover a span of time, ask
if the prices have changed before you register.
What to Look for
Talk
to friends and colleagues and ask them what schools they recommend.
Armed with these recommendations visit at least three to five centers to
meet with the principal and teachers and assess the suitability of the
environment for your child. Visiting the centers will assist you in
forming an opinion of its environment, cleanliness, values and
capabilities. Keep in mind that computers, flashy toys or dramatic
surroundings aren't necessarily what is most important to children. What
matters most is each child's experience.
When choosing a school you may want to inquire about:
- How long has the school been in existence
- The experience of teaching staff
- What is the child to staff ratio? Recommended ratios are: one adult for every three to four infants or toddlers, six 2 year-olds, eight 3 year-olds, nine 4 year-olds, ten 5 year-olds, and ten to twelve school-age children
- Cleanliness - visit the bathrooms and cooking areas to see what standards of cleanliness are upheld. Ask how often the toys are cleaned. Ask where diapers are changed for children who are not yet potty trained.
- Attention to fire and building safety issues (there are no official codes in Indonesia).
Observe the school. You should see children who:
- Seem comfortable and are free to move about and investigate their surroundings the way they would at home.
- Appear healthy and well cared for.
- Are happily occupied.
- Approach the caregiver easily when they need her help or attention.
- Have their diapers changed promptly. (Caregiver should wash hands afterward.)
You should not see:
- Children left unsupervised.
- Children running randomly around or bored from lack of activities.
- Children hurting each other with no adult intervention.
- Toys that are inaccessible to the kids, unsafe or not appropriate for their ages.
- Food that can cause choking served to children under three, such as: grapes, peanuts or raw carrots.
- Physical discipline, including hitting or shaking children.
- Any verbal reprimand that shames or embarrasses a child.
The Choice is Yours
Ultimately
the decision on where you want your child to attend preschool is yours.
Only you can determine if the school the most appropriate for your
child, if it will prepare your child for the next step in their
education or if you feel comfortable with the staff and the philosophy
of the school.
Trust
your overall impression of the school - the environment, the
professionalism of the staff, the well-being of the children, the
activities that are planned. If something doesn't feel right, just keep
looking. You will find the right preschool to fulfill your child's
needs.
Photo courtesy of www.mooseyspreschool.com
Photo courtesy of www.mooseyspreschool.com
Source: Choosing a Preschools
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