English, economics and Esol teacher Lisa Taylor and English and literacy teacher Nicola Chapman will join four teachers from Hamilton Girls' High School and Onerahi Primary School, in Whangarei, on a trip to Jakarta to connect with their Indonesian counterparts at Al Azhar schools from April 11 to 18.
The teachers will be staying at the homes of their Indonesian partner teachers and visiting their classrooms to get a taste of Indonesian education, life and culture.
Mrs Chapman said given recent events in Christchurch, New Zealanders were now more aware the world needed understanding and respect for each other's cultures.
''I am especially looking forward to visiting an Islamic school, because I teach so many Muslim girls and have enjoyed this very much. But I feel I need to know a lot more.
''I think getting to know people on a more personal basis will be hugely beneficial to deepening my cultural awareness and sensitivity.
''I hope that the connections our students can make will do the same.''
Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world. Nearly 90% of its 264 million people are followers of Islam.
The exchange is part of the Global Schools Partnership Project, which aims to build connections between pupils in Asia and New Zealand.
It is a collaboration between Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whitau Tuhono and the Southeast Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence (Sea Cape).
The Indonesian host teachers will, in turn, visit New Zealand to learn about Kiwi culture and education in June.
Sea Cape director Prof Siah Hwee Ang said the group would maintain an ongoing relationship by making the most of digital technologies to connect their classrooms.
''The ability to connect across cultures, to understand issues from a global perspective or different perspectives, is vital for young people in today's world.''
