In each target area MBE has trained a team of 12 facilitators. They were chosen from teachers, principals, supervisors and other local government staff. Their task is to train schools, primarily the MBE target schools, to implement school-based management (SBM). Active, Creative, Effective and Joyful Learning (PAKEM), and to increase community participation. They are trained and are often accompanied in performing their tasks by national trainers, some of whom are local facilitators who have been successful in their own areas.

They are intentionally called facilitators, because their jobs is to help facilitate schools implement SBM, PAKEM, and community participation in a variety of ways.

Inter-Active and Practical Training

Out-of-school training is provided for principals, school com-mittees, and teachers together. The methods used encourage discussion and practical work which directly supports the participants' work in their schools.

Using Successful Practitioners

The training also uses many guest speakers who have successfully implemented innovation. These speakers are chosen from principals, teachers and the community. This method is effective because the participants in the training can listen and relate directly to the innovation, and this increases credibility.

On-the-job Training

Local facilitators also frequently visit schools to give assistance/on-the-job training directly to teachers with respect to implementing teaching and learning activities or support principals and school committees while they are making School Development Plans (RIPS) and Budgets (RAPBS).

Comparative Studies and On-the-job Experience

Many study visits take place to schools which are successfully implementing SBM, PAKEM and community participation.

These visits may be in the form of a comparative study, in which the visitor observes school activities and discusses them with the school parties concerned. Visits are also sometimes in the form of on-the-job experience in which teachers sit in on one class for an extended period (up to several days) in order to gain more in-depth understanding of the activities.

Target School Becomes On-the-job Training Centre After receiving training related to professional development, especially about PAKEM, teachers often have difficulty implementing it in the classroom. When they have finisihed trying in class the examples of teaching and learning that they learnt in training they tend to go back to conventional teaching and learning practices. One way to over-come this situation is through "on the job training" for both the MBE target and non target schools in which they receive new learning ideas. The MBE target schools have often been used as a place for on-the-job training. Recently SDN 4 Penganjuran and SDN 2 Jajag received visitors from non-target schools who wanted to watch good PAKEM learning. From this on the job experience many participants felt satisfied that by using PAKEM students are able to learn well, and are happier in the classroom. They also got many creative ideas that they will be able to develop at their own schools. Ibu Hj. Siti Rasdiana (1.) teacher of 2A teaching her students while the participants in the on-the-job training watch her (2.), have discussions and talk to the teacher and students.

Inspirational Teacher Becomes a Guest Speaker

Ibu Subartiti, a grade 1 teacher and Ibu Ulis, the parent of a grade 1 student at SDN Pandansari Ajibarang, Banyumas district (photo left) were invited as experts to give a talk during training of MBE target schools in Banyumas. Ibu Subartiti shared her experiences and inspired the training participants. She uses teaching methods which are interesting and effective, and also visits the students' parents in order to encourage them to send their children to school. Since practicing PAKEM the quality of learning has improved. She takes her children out of the classroom to observe the environment, for example, while learning science, or to talk about what the children can see.

She frequently uses simple aids teaching which are very useful in learning science and maths. Example of these aids can be seen in the photo (right), including plastic glasses, small snake fruits, cigarette packets and small sticks. Recently, she has been assisted a number of times by Ibu Ulis who at first just accompanied her child to school. She became a "peeping teacher" (guru ngintip) and was very pleased to be useful in helping the children in the classroom and in making teaching aids.