Honoring Our Teachers

DOKUMENTASI PRIBADI

Sriyani Wongkar (27), an honorary teacher at SD Inpres Boyongpante, Sinonsayang District, South Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi, is teaching Class II students while learning from home.

In the WhatsApp group chat, as well as in social media, on Wednesday (11/25/2020), one of the most popular topics of conversations was to give greetings to teachers in a sincere expression of gratitude.

It was respectful expression, too. One teacher responded that, "a teacher cannot be called a teacher if he does not have students. For that, I thank everyone who has been willing to be a student of mine."

There would be no teachers without students. However, today, because of the disruption of education, whether caused by digital technology or the Covid-19 pandemic, teachers play a particularly important role.

Also read: Pandemic not an Obstacle to Improving Education

This daily on Thursday (26/11/2020) published articles about the importance of improving the quality of teachers who are now facing various new challenges, as we mention above. Appreciation for their work was also expressed by Education and Culture Minister Nadiem A. Makarim, who said teachers had risen to the task and were striving to ensure the continuing education of their students.

During the pandemic, when face-to-face learning had to be replaced with remote learning, teaching methods cannot be the same as in normal times. If a teacher only teaches according to the old normal, students will easily get bored. Teachers need new competencies, especially on making teaching materials more interesting, as well as on communicating online that is quite different than talking in person.

Also read: Problems of Contract Teachers

The deputy secretary-general of the Federation of Indonesian Teachers Unions (FSGI), Fahriza Martha Tanjung, said that, in the past, many people thought being a teacher was an easy job. However, when the pandemic and distance learning emerged, parents who have to help their children in learning activities had begun to realize the difficulty of being a teacher.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Dede Juhadi (36), a non-permanent teacher at SDN 1 Astapada, Cirebon, West Java, checks the task of making student videos related to Heroes\' Day on his device, Friday (20/11/2020), in Cirebon, West Java.

Collaboration between teachers, schools, parents and students is needed to ensure the learning process can be carried out smoothly. There is also an increasing need to improve the competence of teachers. In this regard, a proposal to give teachers adequate incentives, especially teachers affected by the pandemic, makes sense. After the pandemic, education – like other fields – will also be affected by Industry 4.0, which brings various new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and automation. Teachers also need a deeper understanding of these new technologies.

Otherwise, due to the rapid development of science, students will only get outdated knowledge.

In addition to the need to adopt the new technology, teachers are required to create enthusiasm, so that students are motivated to become lifelong learners. Otherwise, due to the rapid development of science, students will only get outdated knowledge.

Also read: Yacinto Dacrus,Teacher’s Devotion in Border Zone

To enable students to become problem solvers, it is necessary for teachers to always instill a problem-solving orientation in their students. Teaching as a profession should be more than just a livelihood, it should be a calling and involve compassion and the desire to share knowledge, as well as to seek knowledge.

The 2020 National Teacher\'s Day commemoration can be used as an opportunity to honor teachers, as well as to improve the level of their welfare and competence.