|
BANDA ACEH: MIN Rukoh Rebuilt by PLN
One of the MBE and DBE partner schools in Banda Aceh, which was affected by the tsunami, is MIN Rukoh. Since the school made a study visit to Probolinggo in January 2006, it has changed completely. PAKEM is being implemented in all classes and there are beautiful displays in all of the classrooms.
SBM and community participation are going well and the school development plan is displayed publicly. Because of this progress MIN Rukoh was chosen to be the site for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in May between Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar and the DBE and MBE programs.
But the school principal, Ibu Ummiyani was still dissatisfied because the school building was still in a damaged condition because of the tsunami, including one classroom that had collapsed completely. Several NGOs and donors had visited the school and considered rebuilding it. "But," said Ibu Ummi, "They never came back again, after they'd looked to the school."
After the signing of the MOU at MIN Rukoh, an official of PLN, the electricity supply company, read about it in the newspaper and immediately came to look at the school. He asked to look in the classes and was surprised by the lessons he saw.
"That's how you teach here!" he said. He asked about plans for rebuilding the school. Ibu Ummiyani showed him the school development plan, which had been made following training by DBE1 and included plans for rebuilding the school.
|
PLN rebuilding MIN Rukoh. Ibu Ummi, the school principal, sitting in front of the classroom waiting for the building to be finished!
|
The next day the same man came back and immediately said, "I've come back. Can you vacate the classrooms today? We are ready to demolish the school building starting tomorrow." Ibu Ummi was surprised but pleased. The school immediately emptied the classrooms and moved to the nearby secondary school madrasah (MTsN and MAN) building.
Six classrooms, a teachers' room and school office are currently being built by PLN. Two more classrooms are going to be built by the local Islamic university (IAIN) and the Banda Aceh District Education Office is going to build a school canteen. Finally, A Happy Ending!
MADIUN: Low Cost Displays
If you go into the classrooms of SDN Kanigoro 3 in Madiun, you will be struck by the beautiful displays of children's work. But beautiful displays don't have to be expensive.
The teachers at SDN Kanigoro 3 use waste materials to make the display, especially old calendars.
PURWOREJO: Head of Subdistrict Office Goes to Class
Local government staff have a very important role in supporting innovation in schools. We have reported in past editions of Suara MBE examples from Probolinggo, Pacitan and Banyumas, where the heads of the Subdistrict Education Offices have supported and encouraged schools to change and develop.
|
The newer districts who joined MBE in 2005 don't want to be left behind. In Kutoarjo Subdistrict, the Head of the Subdistrict Education Office regularly visits schools to monitor progress.
|
Bpk Sasmito Ade, Head of the Kutoarjo Subdistrict Education Office watching grade 1 children at SD 1 Kutoarjo matching words and pictures.
|
PURWOREJO: SMPN 5 Making Progress
A year after joining the MBE program, SMPN 5 Purworejo is feeling the benefits of the cooperation. Having received their second training, the teachers understand much better the essence of PAKEM teaching approaches. Before, they were somewhat pessimistic because not all the teachers at the junior secondary school were able to take part in the training. But not anymore.
The various MBE activities such as training and mentoring, which have been done by the district facilitators at SMPN 5, have increased the school's commitment to improving its performance and the role of all the stakeholders, including the principal, teachers, school committee and the students.
There has been a very positive response from Ibu Esti Wardani, the school principal, who has encouraged the teachers to teach using PAKEM methods. This is reflected in the more creative ideas and use of learning resources by the teachers and students. Lessons are no longer limited to sitting in the classroom using a textbook.
In the picture in above, grade 9 students are learning science about 'natural selection' outside the classroom. The activities took place in the heat of the midday sun, but the students were still enthusiastic and enjoyed learning outside the classroom.
When the school was visited by the MBE program director, Stuart Weston, Ibu Esti War-dani, the principal of SMPN 5 Purworejo dis-cussed the school's plans to raise the quality of teaching and learning and the progress already made at the school in implementing SBM, community participation and PAKEM.
|
