Lessons from Indonesia's Bilingual Education: A Revisit of the RSBI Abolishment with Insights for Taiwan

Background/purpose. This research paper investigates the lessons Taiwan can learn from Indonesia’s bilingual education policy, especially regarding abolishing the “Rintisan Sekolah Bertaraf Internasional” (RSBI) initiative. In line with this objective, the paper presents recommendations based on these lessons.

Materials/methods. This study employs a qualitative approach that includes a comprehensive literature review method to analyze various sources, such as academic journal articles, government documents, and media reports, aiming to understand the complexities faced by the RSBI program.

Results. The findings highlight several key factors that contributed to its discontinuation, such as educational inequality, financial challenges, concerns about national identity, curriculum issues, lack of teacher preparation, and differing perspectives among stakeholders. These results have important implications for bilingual education policy in Taiwan, stressing the necessity for a balanced strategy that aligns language policy with national identity, fosters educational equity, enhances curriculum quality, and focuses on teacher training. By learning from Indonesia's experiences, Taiwan can develop inclusive, equitable, and culturally aware educational policies that improve international competitiveness while honoring local contexts.

Conclusion. The paper concludes with a proposed framework for delivering inclusive and culturally responsive bilingual education in Taiwan, providing a clear structure to guide future policy development.

Keywords: Bilingualism, Bilingual Education, RSBI (Rintisan Sekolah Bertaraf Internasional), Taiwan Bilingual Education, International School

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