Job Discussion Forums

Honky Nick · Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 113 Location: Hong Kong

Hi there,

Does anyone know anything about ACG (Academic Colleges Group) International School? Any good or bad experiences to share?

Thanks,

Nick

ESLninja · Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Singapore

the web is messing up and I ended up posting this twice so...

ESLninja · Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Singapore

Well, in typical Indonesian education business fashion, it is misnamed - it is not registered as an International School (which is a particular legal category); it's a "National Plus" school.

Having said that, it is more of an International school than some which are so registered, and is at least owned by an international education group (ACG run schools in NZ for educating rich little asian kids). I know a few people who work there (or have) and they seem generally happy with the place. The other teachers I've met (not many) are actually qualified (unlike a lot of these joints) and the facilities seem reasonable to good for a small school.

They also are (or were) running an English Language course after school hours and 'someone' told me that they thought it was good value so they'd signed their daughter up and were happy with it.

Honky Nick · Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 113 Location: Hong Kong

Hi ESLninja,

Thanks for the information. Yeah, at first I thought it might just be a language centre, but it actually is a school - although extra-curricular tuition is required of the teachers. So far they seem quite friendly and professional, and the package seems fair, so fingers crossed.

Nick

rayman · Joined: 24 May 2003 Posts: 427

This is a good quality school in terms of professionalism and satisfaction of the teachers. The salary package for classroom teachers is in the range of $2500 - $3500 depending on qualifications, duties and experience. All classroom teachers are qualified expatriates with teacher registration in their own countries

It's not a national plus school as stated above, as there is no Indonesian curriculum component. IB PYP is taught in the primary and Cambridge in the high school.

You don't hear much spoken about ACG in these circles as it has a good reputation and no complaints from the staff.

Good luck

rayman · Joined: 24 May 2003 Posts: 427

I should have added, the salary figure is per month. Which is 200-400% more than most language mills pay. As such, they have the luxury of only hiring appropriately qualified and competent staff.

sherlock · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 72

I would like to know more about this school. The salary as mentioned is indeed in line with other international schools, however I am not sure if this can actually be classified as an international school under Indonesian law.

According to the education act, an international school may only have 20% of its student population as national students. I know this for a fact as I work in an International school and we have a waiting list of national students. If ACG is is an international school, how can most students be Indonesian citizens? Many nat plus schools use IB curriculum and inter mesh it with national curriculum, is that what is happening here?

I have also heard of supposed international schools using these IB and IGCSE and paying the relevant educational bodies to look the other way. I would like to know how this school can get away with calling itself an international school if it is clearly breaching the student populations laws.

There are many schools that call themselves international, when they are actually not registered as such with the government.

rayman · Joined: 24 May 2003 Posts: 427

Sherlock, I'm not up to speed on the law requirements to be classed as an international school. However, I do know that most students aren't in fact Indonesian. Most are expatriate westerners and korean. Around 20-25% would be Indonesian nationals I'd say. So it's much more international than national plus schools I'm aware of.

As said, the Indonesian national curriculum has no role whatsever at the school.

ACG has been established in New Zealand for a number of years. From what I've been told, it regularly produces the top ranking students in the country. It is partly funded by Massey University in New Zealand. Hence the Academic Colleges Group name.

ACG has also just opened a new campus in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. As I understand it's been designed to cater for over 1200 students, which will make it one of the biggest international schools in the country.

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

I've not worked for ACG but I've run into some of their teachers during seminars and the like. All the teachers I met were qualified and experienced and I never heard any complaints about their school. As previous posters have said, many excellent schools are scarcely mentioned on forums like this one because staff turnover is low and grievances are rare.

rayman · Joined: 24 May 2003 Posts: 427

rayman · Joined: 24 May 2003 Posts: 427

Additionally, it's not even a requirement to be an international school as a means of using the IB or cambridge curriculum. As evidence by the numerous national plus schools in indonesia and increasing private schools in England, Australia etc. that are adopting IB.

IB have extremely stringent criteria and requirements which must be met on an ongoing basis. The application process for certification as an IB school takes 2-3 years and is assessed on an ongoing basis. Teachers must also undergo regular professional development courses. It's not simply a matter of paying some money and getting a stamp, as some may think.

rayman · Joined: 24 May 2003 Posts: 427

I just checked with a friend that works there. At present, ACG actually don't have any one nationality representing more than 20% of the student body. This to my knowledge, would make it more 'international' than many other international schools.

sherlock · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 72

Hi Rayman,

I know all too well just how hard it is to get IB approval. I meant that some school could be paying off the goverment to get the correct classification even though they didn't adhere to the school population laws. But it is obviously not the case here.

My main question was how they got away with the 20% rule and other posts implied it was a school for rich locals. Your friend has obviously answered my question, thanks.

I may look to apply for a job there in the future if I could get over the fact that I would have to live in Jakarta.

rayman · Joined: 24 May 2003 Posts: 427

Hi Sherlock,

I think the comment by ESLninja was referring to ACG's Auckland campus, which as irony would have it, does mostly attract asian students.

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

I once heard a principal from a NatPlus school (who really should know better) spouting that cr@p about how schools pay a bribe to IB inspectors to look the other way. It is simply NOT true.

Even after candidate schools are accepted as IBO World Schools there is so much external moderation that institutional cheating and malpractice is noticed and clamped down on very swiftly. The IBO is a multi-million Euro organisation that continues to exist only because of its reputation for stringency. That reputation is most certainly not for sale at a price any school could afford.

The only abuse I have seen in Indo concerns IB candidate schools using the IB logo and name to suggest that they are accredited. It is very easy to find out if a school is accredited as the details of all such schools are posted on the IBO website.