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As it happens the district facilitators chosen in Pati are not from MBE target schools, Three of them are from Gabus sub-district which is not even a target sub-district. The three facilitators are Ibu Asih, Bpk Kabullah and Bpk Kadis. The latter two facilitators have only been school principals for six months but they have already fully implemented SBM and PAKEM within their schools. At SD Gabus 1, Ibu Asih's school the school budget is on display, and was made together with the school committee (photo 1).
There is a well organized library that is well used by the students (photo 2). In a number of classes the students were asked to reflect upon the benefits of the lesson that they had just participated in, and to provide feedback to their teachers regarding the effectiveness of the learning. An important issue within the PAKEM model is that students are encouraged to express their own experiences and opinions. At SD Koryokalangan, Bpk Kabullah Daim's school, the students are often asked to write a diary (see photo 6 below).
The atmosphere in class is happy, and the students sit in a semi-circular pattern to make it easy to have discussions. There are interesting displays of their work in every class (photo 7). The head of the School Committee, Bpk Muhamadaun (photo 8) is very enthusiastic about the changes at the school and especially with regards to the ways students are learning.
He said, 'The children are very enthusiastic about school, and if they want to know something they ask their friends - they don't just depend on the teacher. After school students don't rush straight off home but enjoy staying at school to take part in prayers.'
When we arrived at SD Karaban 4 (Bpk Kadis's school) we were very impressed to see the students in all classes performing tasks that were developing their creativity and skills. Grade 2 students were making up their own addition sums. In 10 minutes Sudharmono (photo 9 - being observed by his teacher, Ibu Puryati) made up and worked out 28 sums by himself! In grade 3 the students were making up division sums.
In grade 4 the students had a price list of several goods and they had to find ways of spending a total of Rp.15.000. Grade 5 students were writing about migration, and the grade 6 students were writing essays about a Mandala Airlines accident which had happened a few days earlier. (In photo 10 Khotibul Umam a grade 6 student is writing his essay). In all classes the students worked independently and they were not disturbed by the visitors to their classes.
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The SD Gabus 1 school budget is publicly displayed
The school library is well managed and used by the students
A Grade 5 student's reflection on a lesson
Bpk Jumeno, Head of the sub-district Dinas Pendidikan, Ibu Titik Dwi Kuriawati, grade 5 teacher and Bpk Djoko Raharjo with grade 5 students
Ninda, a grade 1 student writing in her own words about the human body watched by her teacher
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Many people think that PAKEM methods make life more difficult for teachers. In fact the opposite is the case - especially at SD Karaban 4. It was the students who had to do much more work. They make up and answer their own questions, and also write their own stories.
What's more, the students enjoy being busy doing tasks that they find interesting and help develop their skills. While we were in Gabus sub-district we were accompanied by the Head of Cabang Dinas, Bpk Jumeno and number of supervisors (see photo above). The supervisors were keen to learn and highly supportive of the innovations in their schools. Keep up the good work!
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