Sekolah Bogor Raya

On Friday 23 November, the Association of National Plus Schools (ANPS) held an extra-ordinary General assembly to take steps towards becoming a legal entity. This Assembly, opened by the chair Daryl Forde of ACS/Tiara Bangsa and Seemun Suparno of Ichthus, was quickly passed into the hands of the ‘legalization subcommittee’ a group of hardworkers led by Ibu Harumdah Widjaja of Pelita Harapan Bukit Sentul, Ardina Utomo of Madania, Dyah Kusumadewi of Cita Buana and Pak Joko Prabowo of Saint Peters, who is also acting as council for the ANPS.

This belated move to legalize the Association is necessary if it is to be taken seriously by the Government of Indonesia. The ANPS was founded during the First National Conference of National-Plus Schools in Indonesia, Karawaci, November 17 and 18, 2000, organized largely by Mark Heyward and Ibu Sopantini of Laras International and Darrell Van Luchene of Sekolah Pelita Harapan. (And, in case you’re wondering, yes, I was also present for the inaugural discussions.) Over the ensuing years, the association developed, grew its membership, started accrediting schools, and talked often of becoming a real body. And now finally, it is set to happen, thanks to Daryl and the legalization subcommittee and Pak Joko. The association will become an association, not a foundation, with schools as members, not individuals.

A number of schools have agreed to act as founding members for the new ANPS, which, by the way, may or may not go by its old moniker of ANPS. All member schools will soon have the opportunity to vote on a shortlist of names, but regardless of the outcome of this exercise, public relations are of paramount importance. Our Association has an image problem, which we need to address. For what it’s worth, here’s two cent’s worth:
• All member schools should be encouraged to seek accreditation;
• Member schools should advertize their status;
• Member schools should communicate with their government counterparts, and bring them to ANPS teacher conferences, jobalikes, and other events;
• The ANPS should set lower charges for member-sponsored government attendance at its events;
• Periodically the ANPS should publicize its criteria for accreditation and list those schools which have achieved it.

And every time a reporter says that the term ‘national plus school’ doesn’t have a clear meaning, take him to task for not doing his homework, then refer him to the ANPS website or here:

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