Teachers Strengthen Ties with Indonesian Sister School

News bulletin: 20 Decemeber 2011

Two Victorian primary school teachers are set to learn firsthand about Indonesia’s culture, education system and schools when they visit the country on a study tour in January.

Mel Douglas and Kathy McVeigh from Marlborough Primary will visit Indonesia for three weeks as part of the BRIDGE program that aims to increase Australian students’ knowledge and understanding of Indonesian culture and Islam.

‘As part of the program we’ve been matched up with a partner school, hosted two Indonesian teachers from that school - we did a four day cultural program with them...and now we’re going over to Indonesia,’ says Ms Douglas.

Since hosting the Indonesian teachers earlier this year, Ms Douglas, Ms McVeigh and their students have kept in touch with several Skype sessions and by sending postcards, letters, brochures and maps to help their Indonesian counterparts learn more about Australia.

Ms Douglas says participating in the program has helped the students to break down cultural barriers and misconceptions.

‘Our students can relate to different cultures now. When [Indonesian teachers] Siti and Feti came they were so open about their religion, educational views and being Muslim. They spoke openly about the hijab and cultural beliefs – it was true cultural learning.’

On their study tour, Ms Douglas and Ms McVeigh plan to spend their time in Indonesia learning more about the country’s culture and schooling system so they can share their knowledge with their students when they return. They are also looking forward to signing off their first official partner school agreement.

'[Then we can] collaboratively write curriculum that will enable students at both schools to work on a shared global classroom project. A very exciting future awaits us,' Ms Douglas says.

The BRIDGE program was established in 2008 as an initiative of the Australia–Indonesia Institute and the Asia Education Foundation and is funded by The Myer Foundation.

Pictured: Mel Douglas and Kathy McVeigh with Indonesian teachers Siti and Feti.