BALI GREEN SCHOOL BALI - one of the most groundbreaking schools on the planet

The green school
BY CHRISTIANE OELRICH

GREEN SCHOOL BALI is one of the most groundbreaking schools on the planet, hoping to produce a generation of citizens who are knowledgeable about and inspired to take responsibility for the sustainability of the world.

Situated on the Indonesian island of Bali, the first impression could be of a hippy camp in the jungle but here, the objective is for the school’s children to tune in to the world around them, not drop out from a consumerist society.

The school was founded two years ago with a focus on environmental protection and sustainability, but the 130 pupils also learn mathematics, physics, philosophy, English grammar and mathematics to the Cambridge IGCSE standard.

"A life-changing experience," says Renee Schipp, whose 13-year-old daughter Greta has been attending the school for a few months now.

"We have seen the transformation of a teenager, who previously barely opened her mouth at meal times but now discusses Plato and environmental protection with us."

The Australians are delighted with Greta’s progress. "Our daughter has found her voice and learnt that her views are valued," says father Ashley.

"The children are more socially engaged, understand cultural and linguistic differences and have greater respect for others," explains the school’s German teacher, Satya Berger.

The stony road to the school at Sibang Kaja, which lies a quarter of an hour’s drive south of the artist town of Ubud, weaves its way through jungle and is lined by trees and palms.

Travellers have to cross the river Ayung by means of a bamboo bridge and continue along the unlit route before the school building suddenly comes into view.

The single classrooms are spread over eight hectares and are almost invisible as their construction entirely out of bamboo means they blend superbly into the forest.

The school also uses compost toilets to reduce its impact on the local environment and has, at its heart, a two-storey open hall that serves as an atrium and will also house the planned library.

Lessons take place inside and outside with students switching on a regular basis. The classrooms rely on natural ventilation and air-conditioning is only used in the bamboo huts on particularly humid days.

Each class is responsible for its own garden, supplying the canteen with any harvest. "It’s so much fun here," says one 13-year-old schoolboy from Belgium who is standing with friends at the organic restaurant on his last day before returning home for his summer holidays.

"I’m sad because we’re moving away from Bali," he explains.

As well as the usual subjects, the school’s timetable includes yoga, organic farming, water treatment and the manufacture of batik, a Javanese cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique.

Children also learn the Balinese martial art of mepantigan which involves the techniques of throwing and locking.

Most importantly, the children have to have no fear of getting their hands dirty as a lot of physics and biology classes take place in the forest or along the river.

Berger’s seven-year-old son Melvin also attends the school.

"We were won over by the academic timetable, combined with the essential skills the children learn here that means they are more environmentally aware," he says. "They are being brought up to have values that will last them a lifetime."

Understanding the environment is not a separate topic but is a thread that runs through all subjects.

"Today’s school education needs to be more focused on the needs of the 21st century than was previously the case," explains admissions director Ben Macrory. "We want to raise creative problem-solvers."

The school was founded by John and Cynthia Hardy, an American couple who for years produced silver jewellery in Bali. The Hardys have since sold their factory, which was mainly built of bamboo and with minimal impact on the neighbouring rice fields.

"This school should stand in the vanguard of revolutionary education in the 21st century," says Cynthia.

The school emphasises taking responsibility for each other, the importance of a social conscience, promoting creativity and caring for the environment.

It’s not cheap, however, with parents paying up to US$10,000 (RM32,000) per year with scholarships only available to locals.

Next year, the Hardys expect between 150 and 170 schoolchildren through their doors. – dpa