J

akarta will soon accommodate 800 of the smartest kids in town at an elite bilingual boarding school for students with IQs higher than 120.

Head of The Jakarta Education Agency Taufik Yudi Mulyanto said Friday that students would be able to enroll in July this year at an open house of the newly built school.

Governor Fauzi Bowo is scheduled to launch the city-funded school, SMA Negeri Unggulan Muhammad Husni Thamrin, in July.

"Mohammad Husni Thamrin is Jakarta's own national hero who fought the colonial rule using diplomacy. And we know that diplomacy is a show of intelligence," Taufik said.

The school is part of the Education Ministry's program to establish an elite school in every province. The idea was introduced by Education Minister Bambang Soedibyo.

Students have to have IQs over 120, be proficient in English score higher than 80 percent on a math, biology and physics test to enroll.

"They will also have to pass psychological tests and interviews so students in this school will be exceptional in all areas," Taufik said.

For this year, enrolment will be for 10th grade students only. Student and parents interested in enrolment can check the agency's web site at www.dikemtidki.go.id.

Taufik said that the curriculum was designed so that 10th graders would cover 10 of 12 subjects. In the 11 grade, students will follow the UK's Cambridge system and in the 12 grade they will compete in local and international math and science competitions.

"The teachers are highly qualified as well," he said. The school will have teachers with masters and doctoral degrees in their respective fields and employ highly qualified librarians, doctors and psychologists.

Built on 3.7 hectares, the city administration spent Rp 7.7 billion (US$641,666) on the construction of the school and Rp 21 billion on equipment. The school is located on Jl. Bambu Wulung, Bambu Apus, Cipayung in East Jakarta.

The school will have dormitories, laboratories for Physics, Chemistry and Biology, as well as computer and language labs. It will also have a sophisticated library and infrastructure for sports including a fitness center, gymnasium, swimming pool and courts for volley ball, basket ball and soccer.

Taufik said that he could not yet disclose the amount parents would have to pay to enroll their children in the school. He said that the city budget would fund 50 percent of the operational costs, with additional funding coming from the state budget and donations from corporations.

"The school fees are for students expenses in their life at school. The school fees also make the parents and students feel a sense of ownership and responsibility," he said.

While Chairman of the Jakarta Residents Forum (FAKTA) Azas Tigor Nainggolan acknowledged the prestigious boarding school was a good idea, he was concerned as to whether the city administration had their priorities in order.

"It's a good idea to have a prestigious boarding school, however the budget to build the school is really huge. Wouldn't it be better for the city administration fix rundown schools in the city?" he said.

The city has around 300 dilapidated schools, only 19 of which will be revamped, because of a lack of funding. The budget for the renovation of the schools is Rp 190.5 billion.