Visit by District Facilitators to Madania International School

During the review and planning workshop for MBE training the facilitators (or district trainers), principals and supervisors from the various districts had to opportunity to make a study visit to Madania International School in Parung, Bogor.

The weather was clear, the sun was shining brightly and it was starting to feel hot, even at 10 o'clock in the morning. Nevertheless a group of grade 1 children and their teacher were working enthusiastically in the school yard.

They were not distracted by the guests who came to watch their activities. Each child was drawing according to their own creative ability, using a brush and water in a plastic container (no paint). They had to draw quickly because the picture would disappear in a very short time when the water evaporated.

While they were drawing the children answered the teacher's questions. 'What are you drawing? What is happening? Why is your drawing disappearing? Because of the sun? What is the connection with the sun? How long before your drawing starts to disappear?' etc.

After the activities outside the children returned to to their classroom to continue the discussion. Based on the activities outside class and the discussion in class the children were given the task of writing a report of their experiences in their own words and the results were displayed in class.

At the end of yet another another school yard grade 6 children were harvesting beans which they had planted. The beans were then cooked and eaten by the students and teacher.

Other regular weekly activities include traditional dancing, art and drama. Even though Madania school is basically Islamic other religions are given the opportunity to run activities such as a retreat for Catholic students.

The students from different religions occasionally undertake residential activities together and take part in activities according their religious beliefs.

A lot of very good ideas and activities can be found at the Madania school. It is quite a distance from Jakarta and about 7 Km from Parung.

It is no surprise that the number of students in its primary and secondary school which started from 19 students seven years ago has grown to more than 1,000 students.

The key to the success of the school is good, committed school management, young and skilled teaching staff and ongoing professional development activities. The school philosophy which offers a quality academic, social, individual and spiritual education is reflected in the school's vision and mission statements and is practised in the day to day activities of the school.

Each teacher is asked and given the opportunity to develop new ideas. If a teacher sees good books or teaching aids which are available abroad, they are allowed to buy them and the cost is reimbursed by the school.

When necessary examples of good but expensive equipment from abroad can be duplicated in the school workshop to be used by the students. At the start of every week the teachers of each subject meet to develop lesson plans designed to activate the students.

Regular professional development activities are organised by the principal herself. They are also supported if necessary by resource persons from higher education institutions.

On-the-job Training by the Supervisor Bpk. S.H. Susanto, a school supervisor in Gambiran subdistrict who is also a PAKEM facilitator was concerned because the teachers in his schools were finding difficulty in applying what they had learned in the training. He took the initiative of helping the teachers by giving them on-the-job training in class. Bpk. Susanto prepared several lesson scenarios which he gave the teachers to teach in class. After teaching the lessons watched by Bpk. Susanto, he asked them to make their own lesson scenarios. This way of working has proved effective. Teachers' creativity has increased and the children written work is very pleasing. The format of the lesson plans used by Bpk. Susanto is quite simple mainly consisting of a description of activities to be carried out during the lesson. An interesting activity in the lesson below is when the children are given the chance to read and comment on their friend's writing from other groups. The children's work also displays a pleasing creativity.