My MBE, Keeps Moving On

Many changes have taken place in schools since the arrival of the MBE program in Bayumas district. At SDN Pandansari, Ajibarang sub-district, there is optimism as the principal (Bpk Sugeng) said, " My school has realized significant benefits from the MBE program. My school committee have paid more attention to the school and now have the confidence to work to develop the school". One form of their attention has been in the planning of a school mosque.

Bpk Sugeng can be seen in the photo with two of his teachers at the planned site of the new mosque at SDN Pandansari, The principal is very enthusiastic, and even though he is the principal, he doesn't mind going to clean the schoolyard, fix broken furniture or do anything else that is required, as SDN Pandansari does not have its own cleaning staff. Bpk Sugeng with his sincere care for his school deserves appreciation and is an example for other schools. Are there any other "Bpk Sugengs" out there?

A young teacher with big ambitions at MTs Ma'arif NU Ajibarang, is Bpk Wahab Isroni who wants to implement PAKEM at his school. Currently he is doing this by putting up simple displays using the walls of the classroom as a display board. (below).

He believes that if anything can be used, why not, as long as it doesn't damage the school. As there is no budget for providing display boards, why not use the classroom walls? Bpk Wahab hangs his students' work on the classroom walls.

And there are several classrooms that have simple displays using polystyrene foam that he bought with his own money. It was pointed out to us that "where there is a will there is a way" and we should view problems as obstacles that can be overcome.

Many people are involved in the MBE program and and this includes the MBE Success Team in Banyumas. The Head of the Education Office, Bpk Soetjipto DS (below), expressed his thanks to the MBE Program which has supported Banyumas local government activities for enhancing basic education. He hoped that the MBE program could be continued for ever, not only fulfilling the contractual agreement between Banyumas district and RTI.

Not the least is the role of the 12 local facilitators. Their role is like an engine that drives the movement to implement the MBE program in Banyumas.

My Classroom is Very Busy

Led by Ibu Hj. Munidah, SDN 2 Gambarsari is focusing on developing learning and management. When the MBE program first entered SDN 2 Gambarsari it was difficult to assess the state of learning in the school, the school management, or the extent of community participation in developing the school.

Now come and visit SDN 2 Gambarsari! What you can see clearly indicates that the school has a strong will to develop. The implementation of PAKEM is embedded in the spirit of the school. Students feel happy learning with PAKEM, are able to discuss issues with friends, can view their friends' work, and don't feel dictated to by the teacher.

In the picture above, we can see displays of student work. Students can evaluate each others' work. This has a good influence on the students. Students who produce good work receive appreciation because their work will be viewed by everyone, while it is hoped that the students who produce lower quality work will attempt to improve their work of their own accord.

What is Happening at SDN 3 Pancasan ?

Anything can become a source for learning, not only books which is what most people think of. For instance, Bpk Dodik, a teacher at SDN 3 Pancasan, Ajibarang, who is creative, makes use of the students' experience as a learning source. The student comes to the front of the classroom and explains his or her interesting experiences.

Other students respond and give comments about the story told by their classmate. The student in the photo on the left is only one example of the number of students who have related their experiences. He told a sad story about when his grandfather that he loved passed away. Due to his deep feelings about the experience, the student cried in front of class, so it was very difficult to tell his sad story.

The aim of this way of teaching is to help develop the students' personalities and improve their ability to express their experiences. Beside this it can also be used as a learning tool as to how to construct sentences that can be easily understood by other people.

There are many ways of learning that can encourage student creativity, but this also requires creativity from their teacher as well. All classes at SD 3 Pancasan have their students' work displayed. In a number of classes the children's work is stored in bags as a portfolio on the right Arianti, student grade 5 holds one of these bags.