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Schools in Probolinggo Become Work Unit

In Probolinggo district one of the signs of the commitment of the local government to developing education is in their designation of secondary schools as ‘work units’. The process of designating them as work units started with a meeting between principals of secondary schools with the Bupati (District Head) in mid September 2005. At the meeting the Bupati listened to the problems they faced, especially regarding the allocation of routine funds from the district budget (APBD).

At this meeting several problems were identified relating to budget allocations. As a result the Bupati decided on a policy whereby all 58 junior and senior secondary and vocational schools were to become work units. As part of this they had to make a ‘work unit’ budget to include staff expenses (salary and non-salary), goods and services, maintenance and official travel.

To follow up on this policy, the Education Office in conjunction with MBE worked together to prepare the institutions for the formation of these work units. The joint activities included:

  1. Making a study visit to Madiun, an MBE target area that has previously implemented the policy of the school as a work unit.

  2. MBE and LGSP provided technical aid in the form of training to schools regarding planning and making school plans and budgets (see the story on the right).


The leader of the Probolinggo group, Bpk. Syafiudin (upper right wearing Batik) being received by the Head of the Madiun Education Office, Bpk Humaidi (upper middle) listening to an explanation about budgets in Madiun. This was continued with extensive discussións between members of the group and school principals (above).

USAID Programs Working Together in Probolinggo

Managing Basic Edu-cation (MBE) and the Local Government Sup-port Program (LGSP) are two programs from USAID that work in partnership with Probo-linggo district. Each program has a different focus for providing technical assistance to the local government.

Mr. Hari Riyadi and Mrs. Purwida

(Left) Hari Riyadi, MBE consultant and (right) Ibu Purwida LGSP consultant introducing themselves at the SBM training for Secondary School School Principals and Treasurers in Probolinggo.

One of the MBE program’s focuses is helping schools to make School Development Plans and School Budgets. Meanwhile, one of the LGSP program’s focuses is to provide technical assistance in Finance and Planning for the Education Office.

During School Based Management training for Junior Secondary Schools in Probolinggo the two programs were able to work together although they have different focuses. The training was to prepare the secondary and vocational schools in Probolinggo to become effective work units. The participants in the training were school principals and bursars. They were trained in making school plans, budgets and managing funds.

LGSP consultants and MBE facilitators providing individual assistance during preparation of school plans and budgets.

This was the first time a joint activity between two programs has been conducted in an MBE target area. Overall the activity worked very well. This was evident from feedback from the participant at the end of the training.

Banyuwangi: New Bupati’s Policy In Line with MBE

On 2 December 2005 MBE consultants accompanied by the Head of the District Education Office met with the newly elected Bupati of Banyuwangi, Ibu Ratna Ani Lestari who had been inaugurated for the period 2005-2010. The MBE consultants described the program that is being implemented in Banyuwangi and its impact. Education is one of the sectors that is a priority for development in Banyuwangi. This can be seen from the Bupati’s policy that stipulates free education in all state schools. Education policy is also directed to increasing access to education in junior high schools. She has set a target that by the year 2007 all graduates from primary schools will be able to continue to junior high school.

The Bupati said that she has visited one of the MBE target schools, SDN 7 Jajag in Gambiran sub-district. She stressed that what was being implemented by the school showed that the active, creative, joyful and effective learning (PAKEM) does not have to be expensive and is not just for schools in towns.

 
 

She asked for the Education Office together with the MBE program to spread PAKEM to other sub-districts, especially in rural areas, in order to provide quality education for all.

From left to right: Bpk Nurhadi (Head of Education Office), Ibu Ratna Ani Lestari (Bupati of Banyuwangi), Bpk Asari (MBE Coordinator, East Java) and Bpk Toto Purwanto (MBE Consultant)

Good Luck, Ibu Ratna, leading Banyuwangi and developing education in the district.

RTI INTERNATIONAL Managing Basic Education (MBE) USAID