Making Progress Together:
Education Exhibition in Banyumas

A short time ago, Kebasen sub-district, Banyumas (2 – 3 May 2005) held an education exhibition. This exhibition was supported by all the MBE target schools in Kebasen sub-district. The organiser was a district facilitator and member of the sub-district teachers’ union (PGRI).

Participants in the exhibition came from all the schools in Kebasen, from Kindergartens (TK), Primary Schools (SD) up to Junior Secondary Schools (SMP), supported and assisted by the Head of the Sub-district Education Office, Bpk Edy Raharjo (now transferred to Banyumas) and government staff in Kebasen, from the neighborhood coordinator (RT) to the Head of sub-district.

The program started with a flag raising ceremony in celebration of National Education Day (2 May), led by the Camat (Sub-The program started with a flag raising ceremony in celebration of National Education Day (2 May), led by the Camat (Sub-District Head), and then went to the site of the exhibition, at SDN Bentul. The exhibition was opened formally by Bpk Eko Sumaryono, the Head of Administration at Banyumas Education Office.

The exhibition, that started off as a simple affair because of limited funding, turned out to be rather spectacular because of the enthusiasm and ability of the committee to gather sponsors. The sponsors included an education institute, a bicycle dealer and other institutions. The success of the exhibition was also due to the joint efforts of all levels including the education office, local government, and the community itself.

In photo 1, top right, Bpk Eko Sumaryono along with a party of organizers are seen entering the site. The materials exhibited included students’ and teachers’ work in the form of natural science and skills learning, as shown in photo 2, and including a number of teaching aids.

The exhibition also featured an arts show with student representatives from all the schools in Kebasen, including a puppet show from SDN Randegan 3 which had been trained by Bpk Sunaryo, one of the best teachers at Banyumas (see photo 3). In photo 4 you can see the exhibition location full of visitors.

MI Bentul, Banyumas Determined to Progress

One of the aims of the MBE program is to improve the efficient use of education resources. The mapping activities, and gathering of school data from the MBE target schools supports these goals.

MI Bentul, Banyumas is one of the MBE target schools with 125 students under the leadership of Bpk Chusnan and supported by 6 teachers, two of whom are civil servants and four volunteers. MI Bentul is determined to make progress and has a thirst for knowledge. Moreover it is situated next to SDN Bentul, which has already been ranked among the top six schools nationally.

But MI Bentul is no less keen to excel and its location is a catalyst for it to be more aggressive so as not to be left behind. The school has already started to implement SBM and PAKEM. Real changes have resulted from participating in MBE.

Class teachers have formed parents’ groups that have programs which include helping the teachers by becoming teachers’ assistants. The response from parents has been beyond expectations. The groups also assists with fund raising to buy classroom equipment, like cupboards, display boards, portfolio storage and so on.

(Written by Ibu Umi Khaedaroh, Bentul MI teacher - photo above)

Using Holiday Time for Learning

During the school holidays SDN Bentul, Kebasen sub-district, Banyumas held a teachers working group (KKG) meeting. The participants were the teachers from all the MBE target primary schools (SD and MI). The idea to form a KKG especially for the MBE target schools as a means of sharing experiences came from the facilitators in Kebasan.

Normally the school holidays are also holidays for the teachers too. However, because of a very keen interest in learning, the district facilitators and principals of the MBE target schools in Kebasen sub-district planned and held the KKG activity early in the school holidays. The main activities of the KKG concerned improving PAKEM and orientation about the 2004 curriculum. The session was opened by the new Head of the Sub-District Education Office, Bpk Sunaryo.

Bpk Sunaryo hopes that the MBE program will be disseminated to all schools in Kebasen sub-district. This has been started through KKG school cluster meetings. At every KKG meeting one of the teachers from the MBE target schools, accompanied by a district MBE facilitator, shares his or her knowledge with teachers from outside the MBE target schools.