KEBUMEN: What is the Unit Cost per Student?

Following discussions with MBE consultants, Kebumen district tried to calculate a minimum cost index for the education of students in primary and junior secondary schools. Starting from the unit cost workshop run by MBE and using the real costs for primary and junior secondary schools (based on a survey) set out in the 2005/ 2006 district budget, Kebumen district arrived at figures for the minimum cost of education for primary schools of Rp.24,306 and for junior secondary schools of Rp.41,879.

It was then possible to work out the gap between these figures and the national school operational funding (BOS) which is currently being received. It hoped that this gap can be covered by a subsidy from Kebumen district government through a school funding allocation (DAS). Four billion rupiah has already been allocated for primary schools for 2006, calculated mainly by using the unit cost formula.

Synergy between Widyakrama Award and MBE in Kebumen

Based on Ministerial Decree No.058/P/2005, Kebumen has been awarded the Widaykrama Award for 2005 in the form of a block grant for 500 million rupiah. The use and channeling of the Widyakrama block grant is focused on three components: increasing access, raising quality and education management.

One of the 26 planned program activities was school based manage-ment (SBM) training especially for primary and junior secondary school principals - 45 participants from each - which took place on 17 and 18 March, 2006 at the Hotel Candisari, Karanganyar.

The training was supported by resource persons from MBE, Bpk Hari Riyadi and Bpk Popo Riyadi (Principal of SMPN 7 Magelang), who are experienced in implementing the SBM, PAKEM community participation program. It is hoped to disseminate this program to primary and junior secondary schools throughout Kebumen.

KEBUMEN: MBE Supports the Strategic Education Plan (RIPP)

After the success of the education mapping program, Kebumen has successfully made a Strategic Education Master Plan (RIPP) for the period 2006-2010.

This is intended as a program framework for the next five years and as an effort to introduce transparency and public accountability into education planning. Activities to make the plan ran from March to December 2005. There were twelve stages from drawing up the first concept to publication of the second draft.

MBE supported its three main activities, which were training of officials, an annual review and focus group discussions. The result is a blueprint education plan for Kebumen, which it is hoped will be the point of reference for all education programs in the district.

MALANG: Training for School Supervisors

The PAKEM training model has spread widely and affected nearly all education stakeholders, including primary and religious school supervisors. Because they thought it was very important, school supervisors asked to be specially trained in SBM, Community Participation and PAKEM.

From 22-24 March 2006 the special training was atten-ded by 105 people from all the sub-districts in Malang (33 sub-districts).
The participants enjoyed the MBE system and approaches to training: "Enjoyable, challenging and user friendly" were the comments of one participant.

More importantly the model and substance of the training was very useful and will help them in their duties as schools supervisors, especially in giving professional guidance to teachers.

SITUBONDO: MI NU Al Khairiyah - Community Active

MI Al Khairiyah is in Curah Jeru village, Panji sub-district, Situbondo. The school which is led by Bpk Ahmad Zuhdi (photo right) is now reforming itself. This is evident in school deve-lopment activities, which involves every one in the school, including the school committee, foundation, parents groups and local community.

At the moment MI Al Khairiyah is building a new classroom (photo right) to accommodate the extra students which have enrolled at the school. There is one unique element way; they are collective funds for the building by placing collection boxes on the road leading to the school, so that the community can participate directly in the building, which is already 50% finished. "We collect at least Rp.350,000 per day and hope that building will be finished soon," said Bpk Ahmad Zuhdi.

Sehingga masyarakat dapat langsung berpartisipasi dalam pembangunan ruang kelas baru yang sudah mencapai 50%. "Dengan dana yang didapat minimal Rp. 350.000 perhari, kami berharap dapat segera menyelesaikan pembangunan ruang tersebut," tegas Bpk. Ahmad Zuhdi.