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Open Selection Process for School Principals
One interesting idea found by the MBE team was the selection process used for recruiting school principals. The aim is to have a process which is as open and accountable as possible, by actively involving the participation of all stakeholders in education, as well as using professional selection criteria. This process is taking place as a result of assistance from the Partnership for Governance Reform.
First a selection team was formed. It was agreed that it should consist of the Head of the Education Department, the social affairs committee of the parliament, representatives of school committees, teachers, parents and school principals and NGOs concerned with education. This team will sit to together to draw up selection criteria by which to test candidates.
Candidates will be tested by the team. If they fulfil the criteria and pass the test their names will be published to ask whether the local community has any objections. When they have completed all these stages the candidates will wait their turn to be placed as principals. If there are no vacancies they will continue temporarily to work as ordinary teachers.
Anticipating that the process will be continued the local government has made local regulations which had previously been discussed with the community and approved by the local parliament.
Banyumas Excels in SBM
Banyumas district has already been implementing the SBM program for 5 years, supported by UNESCO and UNICEF. They were visited in January 2004 by a USAID team planning a new education project. Everyone involved was impressed by the commitment of the local government towards educa-tion and to developing education in the school visited
SD Kalisari,below, has a school radio which is used to inform children about their homework and give other news.
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MI Ma'arif, Cilongok
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Several years ago, before they were in the SBM program the school building at MI Ma'arif was in a bad condition. Now the school has been rebuilt with the assistance of the local community. Above you can see the school yard which was built by the community.
Notice also the school principal playing table tennis with a pupil! This is a sign of the close relationship between school management and the students, which is probably one of the keys to the success of the school.
The teachers are starting to teach using PAKEM in several classes. In the picture the class 6 teacher, Ibu Rofiqoh, is showing Pak Wahyudi some of the teaching aids she has made.
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The village community in Argowilis, Banyumas, have built a Community Learning Centre. In addition to running the Paket A, B and C programs (for out of school children), they run a number of programs to develop the skills of the local community, including mushroom growing, sewing and art skills (below).
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Down to Earth School Management
At the workshop to review the SBM and PAKEM training MBE invited Ibu Suwarni, the principal of SD2 Karangrau, Banyumas (left) to talk about her school.
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Mrs.Suwarni the principal of SD2 Karangrau.
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Banyumas sent her because of her experience and expertise in managing several school in the district. Several aspects in which the school has progressed include:
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Teachers who previously lacked discipline (late for work or absent) now work hard.
Activities which previously did not take place, ceremonies, early morning aerobics and school repairs and maintenance by the local community all take place regularly now.
Dari sekolah yang mutu dan kegiatan ekstra kurikulernya rendah, menjadi ranking di kabupaten dan juara berbagai lomba ekstra.
Below are several principles which she follows when preparing the school program to manage, raise and maintain the quality of the school:
Discussion with everyone involved in the school including the school caretaker
The committee is invited to discuss the program and the budget and also form a working group. Discussions take place to identify successes from the previous year's program and budget and draw up current plans and priorities. Generally the response of the community is good.
The school includes representatives of the local community, the subdistrict and village governments in school activities. Correspondingly the school is included in subdistrict, village and community activities.
The principal creates a conducive family climate, always sets an example and gives encouragement to others and takes part in all activities.
The principal must be transparent in her planning and her actions so that everyone knows about them and must not hold and manage school funds on her own. Funds must be managed collectively and transparently.
Despite her busy life as a successful educationist, Ibu Suwarni has also been a successful family person. She gets complete support from her husband who is also a school principal. As a result they have managed to get their two sons through university, and one more currently is in his eighth semester. If there were a few people like Ibu Suwarni in each district it would be all the easier to make progress in education in this country.
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