Coastal Community Creativity

SD Ambalresmi 1 and 2, located on the coast in Ambal have creative teachers and students. In grade 4 SD Ambalresmi 2 a mathematics lesson organized by Bpk Dunung, use was made of scrap paper to learn about various kinds of two-dimensional shapes. At SD Ambalresmi 1, the English lessons organized by Ibu Han made use of colored teaching aids usually used in the kindergarten, to learn about colors in English.

Learning English Becomes More Enjoyable

Bpk Hardi, an English teacher at SMPN 4 Banyuwangi, thinks that after using PAKEM methods in his classes the students have become more active and creative, and the classes are more enjoyable. He said this while making a presentation during the PAKEM 2 training. He added that now it is easier to identify, develop and explore students' talents. In every topic they cover, Bpk Hardi gives his students freedom to express themselves in different forms such as poetry, comic strips, narration, and so on. The students find it easier to learn English and do not have so many difficulties in learning.

MBE Teachers Share Their Knowledge

After having received MBE training several times in SBM, community participation and PAKEM, the principals and teachers from the MBE target schools in Banyuwangi District are often asked by non-target schools to share their knowledge and experience. There has been a good response from the principals and teachers from these target schools.

The principals and teachers of both primary and junior secondary target schools have shared their knowledge during various activities, including teachers' working groups (KKG and MGMP), training, mentoring, workshops, etc. For example, the teachers of grades 1, 2, 4 and 5 at SDN 1 Tegalsari acted as trainers in PAKEM and in curriculum analysis for all the teachers in the Tegalsari sub-district, a total of 108 teachers. Activities like these provide a stimulus for principals and teachers to continue to develop.

Training for Supervisors of Four Districts Dinas Pendidikan in East Java Invites Supervisors from 4 Districts to Observe MBE Schools From 30 September to 2 October 2005 the Education Office in Banyuwangi District, in association with the Primary Sub-Section from the Education Office in East Java Province organized "An Explanation of the Curriculum and Technical Guidance for Primary and Kindergarten School Supervisors from Jember, Banyuwangi, Bondowoso, and Situbondo Districts". Each district sent 20 supervisors. During these activities, school visits were organized to MBE target schools in Gambiran sub-district. The Banyuwangi District MBE team of facilitators was given time to talk about matters related to the Competency Based Curriculum, PAKEM, the Curriculum Analysis and the annual teaching program. The way the facilitators organized the training made all the participants participate actively and received a very positive response. School supervisors from four districts working together at the same table, exchanging ideas about raising the quality of education

Disseminating MBE through an Exhibition

Banyuwangi district routinely organizes Development Exhibitions and Promotions in the context of commemorating the Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, in this case the 60th Anniversary. During these activities, each agency presents its developments, including the Education Office (Dinas Pendidikan).

On this occasion at the Dinas Pendidikan stand, Managing Basic Education (MBE) was given the opportunity to participate and they presented information about their activities in Banyuwangi. On the same stand with MBE, SMPN 4 Banyuwangi, one of the MBE target schools, presented a small exhibition about SBM as its main display item.