What's in This Issue?

MBE Target Schools have Improved their Exam Scores: From the grade 6 examination data for primary schools in Madiun and Pacitan it appears that the performance of the MBE target schools has improved sharply relative to other schools since MBE started. In Madiun out of 14 conventional and madrasah MBE target primary schools, 12 have increased their ranking, 1 has not changed, and 1 school went down by one place. Read more about it on page 19.

Dewan Pendidikan (Education Councils) from all MBE dstricts have reached an agreement that reflects their aspirations for advancing education with the support of the MBE program. Read their agreement on page 2.

Portfolios Record Student Progress: Some teachers are using portfolios of work to record their students' development and progress. Read the story about Maria Ulfah's school, one of the MBE national trainers on page 3.

Students Reflect on Their Lessons: Many schools are asking their students to give feedback to teachers about their lessons by writing down their own thoughts about their lessons: page 20.

Supervisors From Four Districts In East Java visited MBE target schools in Banyuwangi as part of a program organized by Dinas Pendidikan Banyuwangi and Dinas Pendidikan East Java: page 8.

Multi-Grade Teacher Training: MBE has provided training for schools where the teachers are teaching multi-grade classes: page 17.

Examples of PAKEM Lessons can be found in several sections in this edition of Suara MBE, especially on , page 18 for those teachers and other education stakeholders who wish to learn more.

Orientation for the DBE Program: MBE ran an orientation workshop in Batu about the MBE program for staff of the new USAID Decentralised Basic Education (DBE) program. On the below Mr. Mark Heyward from DBE is seen visiting a school in Blitar.

A Village School Leads the Way

Having traveled quite a way from Pati to Jakenan sub-district, plus several kilometers more down small roads, we finally arrived at SD Sonorejo. We were very surprised to find a school which was in many ways more developed than schools in the town.

Learning takes place routinely using the PAKEM model. The students work independently and the quality of their work is very impressive. The early years students are already used to writing in their own words. In photo 1 below Ibu Kostina, a grade 2 teacher is looking at a page of writing from Eko.

In photo 2 Umi, a grade 4 student is drawing, comparing, and describing different flowers. In grade 6 (see photo 4 with their teacher Ibu Hayati) each student has their own display space that contains a variety of work including Bahasa Indonesia, Mathematics and Science.

The atmosphere in the school was very happy and the students were not at all disturbed by visitors in their classrooms. A parent, Ibu Sutiyah, was helping the students in grade 1 (photo 3 together with Head of Primary and Kindergarten Education Section, Pak Sarpan).

have taken place in all classes and the quality of the students' work is very good. What is the key to this success? The teachers laughed when we asked about their principal! They view Bpk Supar Atmoko (picture below in front of the school sign) as a colleague and friend. Read Bpk Atmoko's account on page 6..

The role of the Principal is the key to success in many schools. The Principal must have a clear vision, but be practical and realistic as well. The Principal also has to be able to encourage teachers and parents to participate actively and accept responsibility so that the principal, teachers and school community work together as a team. If you want to see this in action please visit SD Sonorejo!