Mapping and Planning at Work in Pacitan

Positive outcomes from school mapping and District planning are being demonstrated in Kabupaten Pacitan. A data manual for the two kecamatan mapped so far has been produced and already the findings are being used to make positive planning decisions about regrouping schools and for multi grade teaching.

These outcomes were revealed by a recent field coordination visit by MBE consultants Edi Priyono, Neneng Widiastuti and Bob Cannon on 14 and 15 February. For example, 22 schools have been identified for regrouping and 39 for the implementation of multi-grade teaching. A specific request for modules on multigrade teaching to support facilitators, principals and teachers has been made and MBE consultants are beginning to prepare suitable material to support this request.

Two pairs of schools identified for regrouping in Pacitan were visited during the coordination vi-sit. The visits were guided by Bapak Kardoyo, Kepala Bagian Program, Dinas Pendidikan.

The first pair of schools is SDN1 Tanjungsari and SDN2 Tanjungsari, located within one kilometre from each other. SDN1 has a total school enrolment of only 25 and seven teachers with tiny, formal classes of sometimes only 2 - 3 children. SDN2 has an enrolment of 229 and 13 teachers and demonstrates early stages of good PAKEM implementation.

The second group of schools is SDN1 Aryowinangun ( 139 students and 13 teachers) and SDN2 Aryowinangun (180 students and 12 teachers) , both of which are located on the one parcel of land and within a few metres from each other. In both groups of schools, the facilities and staffing are duplicated at considerable cost and waste of resources to the District education system.

A clear lesson learned from this exercise in mapping and planning is that much better use of existing resources can be made in Districts when accurate data has been compiled and analysed. The planning challenge is not only to find more resources for education, but also to make better and more efficient use of the resources we already have.

Each of us knows where there is waste and inefficiency and the plans for regrouping in Pacitan are an excellent example of a strategy to identify such waste. It is up to us to identify further waste of valuable resources and work towards making better use of what we have for the sake of the quality of our children's education.

Leadership and participation in Kebumen and Banyumas

Community participation in supporting schools is strong in both Kabupaten Kebumen and Banyumas, Central Java. As consultants move around schools it is becoming clear to them that local communities are taking a very active role in managing and supporting their schools and that communities recognise that they now have a major leadership role in improving the quality of education for their children.

SMPN3 Gombong, Kebumen, for example, which is located in a modest rural community, has received direct community support for the purchase of a class-room of computers (see photograph above). Children are enthusiastic and appreciative of the opportunity to learn about an essential modern communications tool with "hands on" practical experience.

Schools in Kebumen are fortunate to have strong leadership support from District government offi-cials, particularly from Bapak H. Budi Otomo, SH, Head of the Education Office at that time (and now Head of Information and Communications), and Ibu Purnowati, SP, Staff of the Social Affairs Department of Bappeda.

Both have been actively involved in school mapping and planning and have demonstrated their leader-ship and interest in schools by accompanying consultants Anton Timur Jaelani and Bob Cannon during visits to schools on 16 February 2005.

In Banyumas, some schools demonstrate strong community participation in the work of the school. SDN Bentul in Kabupaten Banyumas has even provided a dedicated room for the school committee to conduct its business. This school is a 'sparkling' example of what can be achieved in creating a clean and pleasant working environment for students, teachers and staff.

SMPN 3 Ajibarang is a similar example of a very pleasant physical environment where all classes are organised according to the principles of PAKEM. Nevertheless, the principal, Drs Wahyudin notes the need for teachers to deepen their understanding of PAKEM and for further socialisation of SBM in the local community.