MALANG: SD Wonokerso 3 Pakisaji

The partnership between SD Wonokerso 3 and the MBE program is resulting in some very pleasing changes.

SBM: The school principal is applying leadership principles that are both democratic and open. All decisions in the school are taken after discussions involving the teachers, school committee and parents groups. Teachers are given freedom to develop their professionalism. The parents groups are allowed to manage their own funds and to take part in lessons. In addition, the management of the school shop is delegated fully to the teachers and parents group.

Community Participation: The involvement of the community is increasingly varied and includes a daily supervision rota, cleaning and making the classrooms more attractive, organizing the school catering, supporting the teaching in class, and buying materials to support PAKEM teaching, using voluntary contributions of Rp.200 per student per day, organizing extracurricular computer activities, and arranging a monthly fund raising activity together with the school committee.

PAKEM: Significant changes for the students which have resulted from teaching using PAKEM methods include students being increasingly critical and creative in solving problems. For example, if they are given a question the students can find more than one answer to it. There is an increasing feeling of togetherness between the students, because they work together with their friends most of the time. Additionally, by working together the students develop a feeling of responsibility and are increasingly confident to express their opinions and ask their friends' opinions.

Routine Activities: The school community is growing closer. For example, the students in grades 4 to 6 take part in communal prayers; every morning from 6 to 7 a.m. The children read the Koran followed by taking turns to pray starting from grades 1 through to grade 6.

Visits to the School: As a result of these positive changes, SD Wonokerso 3 receives many visitors for study visits and teacher exchanges. With so many visitors the teachers of SD Wonokerso 3 are not easily satisfied. On the contrary it encourages them to make even more improvements.

Photo 1: Bpk Dori Susanto, a grade 4 teacher has an attractive and interesting classroom.

Photo 2: Ibu Juniati, a grade 5 teacher and district facilitator for science is pictured together with three students, Sita, Fitra and Kali in front of the class display and beside the class library.

Photo 3 & 4: The grade 1 teacher, Ibu Sri Winarsih, is the early grades district facilitator. Only a few of the children in her class attended kindergarten. Despite this, almost all of them can do a piece of writing using their own words. An example of writing by a child who did not attend kindergarten can be seen in photo 4.

Other Schools Interested in MBE

Evidently many non MBE partner schools in Malang district are very interested in the MBE program. During a visit to SD Turen 2, one of the MBE schools, the school was receiving visitors from SDN Glanggang 2, Pakisaji sub-district. The school principal, Ibu Supatmiati was very keen to learn and plans to apply what she has learned in her own school.

Parents Groups Thriving

At SD Turen 2 a school parents group has been formed and called 'CERDAS' (smart). It directly supporting the teaching in the classrooms. For example, there is a rota for parents to come and help in each class; they have also started a school shop called 'SIDO MUKTI' to provide nutritious food to the students; parents help to organize the school library and support the teaching by providing materials.

Learning Becoming More Intensive and Enjoyable

The learning environment in SDN Tumpukrenteng 1: The students learn in a free and enjoyable atmosphere. There is a collection to buy materials, each student sets aside some of their snack money and puts it in a tin in the middle of their group's table. The money is then collected and managed by the students themselves to support the needs of the class.

Ibu Wiwin, the grade 3 teacher said, "Working with MBE, teachers are encouraged to think of new ideas and the students become a more creative, confident and enjoy being in class for their lessons. Even when the bell goes for break time, many of them prefer to stay in class to carry on with their work."

PAKEM Spreading to Religion Teachers

Even though teaching Islamic religion is not yet covered by the MBE program, religion teachers don't want to be left behind. At a religion teachers working group meeting MBE facilitators were invited to introduce PAKEM. (Photo right) Before practicing on the students, religion and madrasah teachers try out PAKEM for themselves.