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Program Makes Big Difference to Jakarta Students
The director of studies at a school in Indonesia’s capital city is amazed by what the Global Assessment Certificate (GAC) program has done for his students.
Graduates of the Global Assessment Certificate program at Sekolah Tunas Muda school in West Jakarta celebrate their accomplishments.
“The GAC has made a tremendous difference in the students’ performance this year, both intellectually and in terms of their attitude,” said Nigel Robson, who oversees student programs at the Sekolah Tunas Muda school. “A few months ago, I wasn’t sure of the students’ capacity to be successful at a university level. Today, I believe our GAC students are among the academic leaders of our school.”
Located in a residential area of West Jakarta, Sekolah Tunas Muda offers educational programming for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students. With a student population of nearly 800, the school serves both local and expatriate children.
GAC is ACT’s university preparation program that is taught and evaluated in English. It gives international students the skills they need to enroll in and succeed at English-speaking colleges and universities. Successful completion of the program guarantees entry into many GAC Pathway Universities in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.
Sekolah Tunas Muda completed its first year of the GAC program in June, when 15 students graduated. Nine students are currently enrolled in the program, and a group of 15 is scheduled to start in January.
The GAC has had a positive impact on students, said Robson. “The GAC has saved many students from experiencing failure. In addition to gaining self-confidence, they have developed key skills in studying, communication, academic research, and report writing—all of which are essential for success in their tertiary education programs.”
He said the nature of the GAC ties in well with the school’s academic program, as students are accustomed to being assessed through group work, presentations, reports, journals, and essays.
“The assessment component relating to class participation has resulted in a dramatic reduction in absenteeism. Overall, I am very proud of the effort our students have dedicated to achieving their best,” said Robson.
