Partnerships between Schools and Business

Several schools reported that they are receiving aid from local businesses. Kalisalam 1 Primary School, Dringu, Probolinggo received aid from PT. Putri Mutiara Rimba, a local company dealing in ceramics.

Their schoolyard has been paved and an amazing, beautiful modern and hygienic WC for students has been constructed just like in a star-rated hotel. The side-effect of this cooperation has been that parents are now much more eager to assist their school.

Industry Starts to Play a Role

PT INKA, a railway coach manufacturer, donated waste bins for every class in SD Klegen 04. In terms of Rupiah value it is not very much, but it is very important because it reminds us that that there are parties outside the school who care about the cleanliness of the school by the donation of the these bins. This needs to continue and develop!

SMPN 1 Banyuwangi

SMP 01 is located in the center of Banyuwangi, and has a school cooperative that is open to public. This cooperative has an outlet to the main street. According to surveys this cooperative, which is sells SOSRO tea products (Teh Botol, Fruit Tea), is one of the biggest sellers of these products in schools in Banyuwangi.

Ibu Yuniarti is the school treasurer and takes care of the school cooper-ative, Bpk. Agung Sutiyono, a Sports Teacher, and Bpk. Suhada prepared a proposal to Teh Sosro (TS) with the aim forming a partnership to use the develop the business potential of their school.

As a result of the proposal they made an agreement that Teh Sosro would paint the basketball field and backboard with their logo, and in return Teh Sosro would supply their drink products at certain events (Sports Competitions, Student Orientations, Walks/Runs, Etc.) for free, and also donate three basketballs. It has been agreed that the next plan includes the building of shelter over part of the school grounds (in the form of an awning).

A meeting between the school principal and the teachers mentioned above will review whether this partnership has produced positive results, and they will try to decide whether to open up to tendering from several manufacturers such as Teh Sosro, Coca Cola, the Mineral Water Company, etc. If open tendering is implemented, fair and positive competitive partnerships can be formed between the schools and businesses.

School Committee Communication Forum :

Education Council Innovation in Banyuwangi District

One of the members of the team charged with forming the Education Council (Dewan Pendidikan) who later become a member of that council said that at the beginning it was very difficult to function because they had no representatives at sub-district level, although the aspirations of hundreds of schools in 21 sub-districts had to be taken into account.

To overcome this problem and to improve the performance of the Education Council, in July 2004 the Education Councilors and School Committee members in Banyuwangi established a School Committee Communication Forum (FKKS) in every sub-district. The forum members are School Committee Chairpersons from all kinds of schools.

New District Coordinators

District coordinators have already been appointed in each of the five new MBE districts, Banyumas, Kebumen, Blitar, Batu and Madiun. They were selected jointly by local government and MBE consultants from many applicants by means of a test and an interview. They have an office in the local government offices.

Their job is to help local government to manage and monitor MBE activities and to act as an intermediary between local government and the consultants at provincial and central levels.