<TABLE id=msgUN border=0 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
Coffeeshop Chit Chat -
Temasek Sponsor Indon Prinicpals Trip</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>
Subscribe </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>
SingaporeNewsAlternative.blogspot.com (snablogspot) <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>9:17 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>
ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 1) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>
15715.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Temasek Spend $547K To Sponsor 120 Indonesian Principals Training
http://thejakartaglobe.com/news/principals-sent-back-to-class-for-skills/313769
Jakarta Glob, 23 Jun 2009, Anita Rachman
The tables have been turned for principals and top education officials from across the country as they take their seats this morning in Singapore for a crash course on management skills that Education Ministry officials say are in many cases lacking.
Singapore’s National Institute of Education is running an intensive 10-day training program to help 120 school leaders from around the country to sharpen skills such as interpersonal communication, supervision and organizational techniques.
Giri Suryatmana, secretary of the Education Ministry’s directorate-general of teacher training, said principals without those skills could affect education in concrete ways.
“The real effects could be many things, including fewer students passing the national exam, and more conflict between teachers. It disturbs the overall service to students,” he told the Jakarta Globe by phone on Monday.
When the group of 120 school leaders returns from Singapore, the are expected to take the training back to their home provinces, which would then “trickle-down” to about 27,000 principals.
Surya Dharma, the director of educators at the ministry, said the
Singapore institute’s training had been funded by Singapore-based Temasek Foundation, with a price tag of Rp 5.7 billion ($547,200).
“Leadership in schools is one of our major issues yet to be solved,” he said.
The process of selecting principals has been marred by allegations of nepotism. Surya rejected those concerns, saying quality standards for school leaders varied widely because recruitment was conducted locally. But, he added that it would be too expensive for the central government to run the searches. The ministry said the country had about 250,000 principals, including those heading Islamic schools.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>