The “Freedom to Learn” or “Merdeka Belajar” policy launched by the Minister of Education and Culture, Nadiem Makarim, last December, centers only on schools. Where in fact, learning outcomes are essentially influenced by families, schools, and communities or so-called the tricenter of education.
As one of the countries with the largest population and vast area coverage, Indonesia faces many inequalities, including in the education sector. What does it mean by education inequality in Indonesia?
Our qualitative study through the RISE Programme in Indonesia showed that a significant cause of the low quality of teachers is the teacher recruitment process which does not focus on selecting professional education personnel but rather on meeting the demands of the civil servants.
The literacy level of the Indonesian people is still very poor. The results of the 2018 Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA), for instance, showed that 70% of students in Indonesia have low reading ability (below Level 2 on the PISA scale). This means that students cannot even find the main idea or important information in a short text.
The Teacher's Day that we commemorate in the midst of this pandemic needs to be filled with appreciation of teachers’ efforts to ensure learning continues. Let’s hope this pandemic will end soon so that teachers and students can meet again in person at school. Happy National Teacher’s Day!
So long as the COVID-19 pandemic remains uncontained, distance learning is likely to stay the primary method of learning for many students. The implementation of the emergency public activity restrictions (PPKM), for instance, has caused the government to postpone its plans for in-person learning in schools throughout Java-Bali.
Indonesia's educational attainment remains low in recent years—based on world and national standards, despite the fact that every year the government allocates 20% of the state budget for education, as mandated by law.
Guru merupakan profesi yang mulia. Semua pihak kiranya sepakat dengan hal itu. Namun, tidak sedikit yang menganggap guru adalah sebuah profesi yang mudah untuk dijalani. Padahal, dalam perjalanan menjadi seorang guru yang berkualitas, banyak tantangan yang harus dihadapi oleh calon guru maupun guru yang sudah mengajar selama bertahun-tahun.
Becoming a civil servant teacher is arguably every Indonesian teacher’s dream as the status ensures financial stability provided by the government. However, does that mean being a civil servant teacher makes quality teachers?
The COVID-19 pandemic and distance learning have “forced” parents to carry a gigantic load to be more engaged with their children’s education while they learn from home, despite various challenges. The good news is that a study conducted by The SMERU Research Institute in Bukittinggi, West Sumatera, shows that parents in the area have managed to overcome those challenges.