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.
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.
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.
Related Information:
Source: Choosing a Preschools
