Job Discussion Forums

markustm · Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 95

As the School year is nearing its end, most Nat-Plus and International Schools are still trying to get around the new regulations, which could mean some will close or have to lay off staff.

The new School year will see two distinct types of schools: National standard Schools, and International Schools, and new licences will be issued to all Schools.

Basically, to qualify to be an International school, you have to have a "Mother" School in your own Country, hire at least 50% Indonesian teachers, and the management have to be Indonesian.

Expat teachers have to teach one subject only- the subject they are qualified in- Only official, qualified "native" speakers can teach English. (A degree in English not a TEFL).

If Schools cannot qualify for this, they become National Standard Schools, which are basically Indonesian Schools. Over 90% of the teaching staff have to be Indonesian, and also all the School Management.

My guess is that since most Schools are still figuring out how to adapt to these changes, and in the worse scenario Schools will lay-off existing teachers.

Some will close down, as the financial benefits of running a Nat-Plus School or International School, are less solely because no School can function as a "yayasan" or charity now. They have to become a local or foreign private Company, and pay taxes.

Teachers and Management in the know, already have prepared for the "get out" stage, either by arranging jobs elsewhere or ensuring they will become part of the smaller group of expatriates needed by their School --under the new law.

One curious part of the law is that expatriate teachers may have to be also Indonesian speakers, and be tested for their proficiency in Bahasa.
Also foreign teachers, who are not considered "native" speakers, may not get their work permits renewed or even cancelled.

Whether the worse scenario of this change will happen, no one knows. But it is common knowledge in higher circles that many established schools are facing possible closure or even downgrading to the status of a National Standard School.

Any thoughts about this?

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

Only one thought: bullshit.

Your post simply aggregates every rumour that has circulated on the subject over the past year, while the few facts that it contains have been given the same sort of 'sexing up' treatment as were the Iraqi WMD allegations.

Lets resurrect this thread in August and see who has the redder face. If you are correct in even half of your scaremongering I will make a substantial donation to charity.

aku_tonpa · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 63

Mark. Where can we find this information?

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

aku_tonpa · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 63

OK.... Thanks Malu.

markustm · Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 95

Malu, I really appreciate your response. However try and check around first before you claim its a "rumor."

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

I've had the opportunity to say what I think on the matter and have no wish to get into a p1ssing contest over it so I will put it in my diary to resurrect this thread in August so we can view it in 20:20 hindsight.

Chancellor · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 4:16 pm Post subject:

International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) schools are not generally linked to "established schools" outside the country where they operate. Is it being suggested that IBO is going to have to shut down its schools in Indonesia?

jhemmila · Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 49 Location: Batam, Indonesia

Everyone, just take a look at the new laws: Peraturan Menteri Pendidikan Nasional Republik Indonesia Nomor 78 Tahun 2009, Penyeleggaraan Sekolah Bertaraf Internasional Pada Jenjang Pendidikan Dasar dan Menengah.

They refer to National Schools with an International curriculum; that is, Sekolah BERTARAF Internasional, not Sekolah Internasional. It is a set of rules and regulations to make sure that these schools, which were allowed by the Indonesian government in 2003 to "emphasize the developmental power of creation, innovation and experimentation to stimulate new ideas that have never existed", are still following the guidelines set by DIKNAS, and that all national students are still taking the UAN.

Again, this covers Sekolah Bertaraf Internasional (SBI), so if the school doesn't report to DIKNAS now, nothing has changed for them.

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

Well... already the last day of our academic year and guess what? The sky still hasn't fallen in.

My school has appointed teachers to 3 new expat positions, the school director is an expat, and friends at two international schools in Jakarta assure me that all their expat positions remain secure into the new year.

Let's come back in August and see if the sky has fallen in by then.

travelNteach · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 222

is it possible that this directive pertains to the "international schools" that are run by the government? for example SMA 8 in jakarta is a government run public school with an international curriculum with a partial english iimmersion program. it is difficult to qualify for this school and i believe the admission and tuition fees are quite high, but other than that it is a normal indonesian government run high school, the same as any other SMA under the control of the ministry of education.

just a thought

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

It is now late September and STILL the sky hasn't fallen in. My own school now employs more expats than in any previous academic year. The school director is an expat. I know of no schools in the same market segment that have laid off any expats in favour of local teachers. Today I was headhunted for a principal post.

C'mon, markustm, show us some evidence to back up your previous claims or admit that they were just rumours in the first place.

sherlock · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 72

Thanks for the bump Malu

No the sky hasn't fallen in and expats will continue to be hired as nothing has yet to become law. My understanding is that DIKNAS was looking at a 2013 or 2014 implementation, but I don't know if this is still valid.

Many of the proposed requirements are very unlikely to come to fruition so I don't think there is anything to worry about just yet. Talks between DIKNAS and those schools registered as "international" are ongoing and will drag out just like a protracted bartering session in your local market.

BTW it is not a rumor - I have actually seen the documents about the proposed changes - I just think there is no need to worry just yet as very few of them will actually make it through to law.

Sherlock