Teachers’ Tips on Breaking Boundaries

KOMPAS/CORNELIUS HELMY HERLAMBANG

Teachers and alumni of Widya Mukti Vocational School, Cigalontang District, Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java, visited the homes of dropouts in Ciorek Village, Cilawu District, Garut Regency, Monday (17/7/2017).

Limitations have not prevented teachers from improving the quality of learning in disadvantaged, frontier and outermost (T3) areas. Their creativity is inspiring children to learn.

A 12-meter-high bamboo pole towers over SD Negeri Cirangkong 1 elementary school in Tanjungjaya district, Tasikmalaya regency, West Java. At its top is a makeshift antenna with a broadcast range of 1-2 kilometers. A cable connects the antenna to the school’s administrative offices.

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In this elementary school is a 2 m-by-3 m room that has been converted into a studio, where a teacher holds lessons. The teacher presents the learning material in front of a laptop camera in the studio, then the students can watch it through their television (TV) set at home.

The antenna has been very useful in supporting online learning, which was initially ineffective. Moreover, the majority of students do not have smartphones or the money to buy data packages.

“This idea [to use a broadcast system] came up because of the obstacles in online learning. Because out of around 200 students, only 20 percent of parents have smartphones,” Wahyu Kamal (38), a fifth grade teacher who initiated the construction of a simple TV antenna, said on Sunday (21/11/2021).

Wahyu made the TV antenna for Rp 3 million using the school's operational assistance fund. As a result, the transmitter became strong enough to broadcast a signal within a 1-2 km radius.

"The device not only makes it easier for teachers, but also for students because they can participate in audio-visual learning," he said.

Students are grouped with those who have devices so they all have access.

In order to avoid a learning process that was just one-way, groups of students take part in classes on TV. Students are grouped with those who have devices so they all have access.

“Interaction is delivered through devices [smartphone]. For example, if a teacher’s presentation is not understood, the students can ask the teacher to repeat it [until they] understand,” he said.

For internet access

On the Indonesian-Malaysian border, teachers from SMA 1 Krayan in Nunukan regency, North Kalimantan, are playing a major role in helping their students pursue their education to the tertiary level. During the university application period, they volunteer their free time to help prepare students.

KOMPAS/SUCIPTO

Students of SMAN 1 Krayan hold a national teacher's day ceremony in the school yard in Long Bawan Village, Krayan District, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, Thursday (25/11/2021).

Because most of Krayan does not have internet access, students are asked to come to the school to apply to universities using the school computer’s very small aperture terminal (VSAT) network, which was provided through government assistance.

VSAT networks are not always smooth. During its initial installation, the VSAT was said to have a speed of 3 Mbps. However, in practice, the internet speed reaches only 1 Mbps.

So when the weather is bad, don't expect to be able to watch YouTube videos. It takes time to just to load a webpage.

“We stay overnight in the computer room to help complete and upload applications. The students’ parents already understand and trust that their children are at school all night for this [purpose]," said SMA Negeri 1 Krayan’s vice principal for curriculum, Yohanes Tandi Aman (36).

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The teachers’ efforts have paid off. Of SMA 1 Krayan’s 109 graduating students in 2020, around 70 percent haved continued to higher education institutions in Samarinda, Tarakan, Depok, Yogyakarta and Aceh.

Nonformal education

In Jambi, Bukit Duabelas National Park (TNBD) is developing nonformal schools, namely forest schools and mobile schools. "The nonformal system was chosen because it is more flexible in terms of curriculum, time and place," said TNBD office head Haidir.

In forest schools and mobile schools, children are taught the alphabet and numbers. They learn to write, read and count, and gain general knowledge that is relevant to their lives.

KOMPAS/IRMA TAMBUNAN

Jungle children's learning atmosphere in Bukit Duabelas National Park, Jambi, 2014.

Uniquely, they also deepen their knowledge of customary traditions. A number of traditional elders are involved in teaching and learning at these nonformal schools. They provide the learning materials to teach Orang Rimba customs and traditions to students.

Six forest schools have been established so far, namely Kejasung forest school, Sungai Kuning (Yellow River) forest smart school, Sako Selensing forest school, Terap Serengam forest school, Talang Kayu Bulan forest school and Sako Ninik Tuo forest school. (ESTER LINCE NAPITUPULU)

(This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswoko).