Muslim Public Primary School

Friday, July 20, 2018

IREX did an amazing job showing us all angles of the educational system of Indonesia. So far, we visited a university, a catholic vocational private school, and today we visit a Muslim public school.

Just like U.S., Indonesia offers both public and private schools. One difference is that religion is a major part of the curriculum. There are Muslim, Catholic, Buddhist, and Hindu schools, the latter two being hard to come by and only available as private schools. You may attend a Muslim or Catholic school even if you do not follow the faith, though most students who go are looking for a more in-depth study of their family's heritage.

If you go to a simple public or private school, you may select the religion of background to study. If your town does not offer these programs you do have the option of going elsewhere.

Today, we visit SD JOHOR BARU 10, Primary School.

The bus pulls in, and we are greeted by the entire faculty and student body. This must have been what it felt like for The Beatles in 1964. We were touched.

Students played music in their traditional flag ceremony, usually held on Monday mornings. This was a special performance. The students were impressive.

Classes resumed from holiday on Monday, and this classroom looks like it's been in working order for weeks. We were told this was previously an underachieving school, but the new principal turned things around. As a public school, SD does not have the resources of SMK Vocational. However, one could tell this institution has a wonderful school culture. The students were engaged by an enthusiastic faculty and staff.

The sustainable garden. Students engage in hands-on environmental study.

Check out this young man's penmanship!

Bonnie and the class sang "Shoulders, Knees and Toes" together. The students were excited, and sang the Bahasa Indonesian version back to us. It was a great moment.

We were treated to traditional Indonesian foods, a question and answer period with the faculty, and this cool martial arts exercise.

At the end of the school day, the students took photos with us, and even asked us for our autographs. Photos were taken all day long. As I stated in an earlier blog, photos and Instagram are big in Jakarta. Here I am with some of the teachers. The people of Indonesia truly make us feel welcome everyday.