Indonesia Jajaki Kerjasama Pendidikan Vokasi dengan Singapura

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Menteri Perindustrian Airlangga Hartanto mengatakan sedang menjajaki kerja sama dengan Singapura untuk mengembangkan program pendidikan vokasi dibidang industri.

Airlangga mengatakan, ia sudah bertemu dengan menteri pendidikan dan menteri perindustrian Singapura. Kedua negara akan mendorong kerja sama pendidikan vokasi. Kerja sama tersebut akan menjadi bagian dari peringatan 50 tahun hubungan antara Indonesia dan Singapura. Airlangga juga mengatakan kerjasama ini akan diterapkan dalam kurikulum sekolah menengah kejuruan (SMK) dengan pola dual system sehingga dapat menghasilkan tenaga kerja terampil yang sesuai kebutuhan sektor industri.

Lebih lanjut Menperin menjelaskan, pendidikan vokasi dengan konsep dual system, menggunakan pendekatan pendidikan yang tidak hanya belajar teori, tetapi juga lebih menekankan pada praktek lapangan. Sementara di Singapura, sedang dibahas juga perluasan akses dan kesempatan bagi pelajar Indonesia untuk berpartisipasi dalam program magang pada perusahan industri di Singapura.

Indonesia Explores Possibility of Cooperation with Singapore in Vocational Education

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The Indonesian Industry Ministry is looking into the possibility of establishing cooperation with Singapore in developing vocational education in the industrial sector, Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said.

Airlangga said that he has met the Singapore education minister and industry minister. The two nations will encourage cooperation in vocational education. The cooperation will be part of the commemoration of 50 years of relations between the two countries. The cooperation will enable vocational schools to apply for curricula under a dual-system pattern to produce skilled workers according to the need of the industrial sector, he noted.

The vocational education, which applies a dual-system approach, will enable students not only to learn the theory but also to spend much of their time on job training.  While in Singapore, he also discussed the possibility of providing Indonesian students with more access to participate in the apprenticeship program in Singapore manufacturing industries.

Link: http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/110152/indonesia-explores-possibility-of-cooperation-with-singapore-in-vocational-education

PTS Berperan Strategis Ratakan Pendidikan Tinggi

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Koordinator Koordinasi Perguruan Tinggi Swasta (Kopertis) Wilayah X Sumatera Barat, Riau, Jambi dan Kepulauan Riau, Prof Herri mengatakan Perguruan Tinggi Swasta (PTS) berperan strategis dalam memeratakan pendidikan tinggi di Indonesia. Ia menatakan, ada empat ribu lebih perguruan tinggi di Indonesia, sebagian besar merupakan PTS. Namun, hanya 200-an perguruan tinggi negeri (PTN) di Indonesia, sehingga pada kenyataannya tidak mampu menjembatani pendidikan tinggi di 17 ribu lebih pulau.

Di sinilah peran PTS hadir di kota kecil, kabupaten bahkan kecamatan untuk menyalurkan harapan siswa lulusan SMA di daerah tersebut. Sebab, sebagian besar masyarakat di daerah yang jauh dari kota besar masih sulit bersaing untuk masuk ke perguruan tinggi favorit. Dengan tujuan dan sasaran yang sama, PTS dapat menjaring banyak lagi mahasiswa dari daerah, khususnya 3T (Tertinggal, Terdepan dan Terluar).

Sebagai gambaran sebutnya saat ini hanya 7 juta jiwa yang terdaftar di perguruan tinggi dari prakiraan penduduk Indonesia sebanyak 250 juta jiwa. Hal tersebut kata Herri menjadi motivasi bagi pemerintah daerah, swasta untuk berlomba meningkatkan kualitas PTS di daerah.

Sementara itu Menteri Riset, Teknologi dan Pendidikan Tinggi Mohamad Nasir beberapa waktu lalu menegaskan pemerataan pendidikan tinggi menjadi skala prioritas pusat dalam membangun sumber daya unggulan. Salah satu pekerjaan rumah terbesar saat ini ujar dia, yakni memperkuat pendidikan tinggi di daerah 3 T dan pemberian kesempatan kuliah kepada warga berekonomi kurang.

PTS Can Take Strategic Role in Providing Higher Education

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Coordinator of Private University Coordination (Kopertis) Region X West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi and Riau Islands, Prof Herri said that Private University (PTS) takes strategic role to Equate the higher education in Indonesia. He also stated there are more than 4,000 universities in Indonesia, most of which being private universities. However, there are only about 200 public universities (PTN) in Indonesia. Therefore, PTN availability is unable to facilitate the function of higher education in more than 17,000 islands.

PTS can, therefore, take in small cities, districts even sub-districts to fulfill the hopes of students in these areas. This is because most members of society in areas far distant from the big cities still pursue the dream of going to university. PTS are thus able to accommodate more university students from the regions, particularly 3T (the Underdeveloped, Frontier, and Outermost) areas.

As an illustration, he said that there are only 7 million registered students in universities from an estimated Indonesian population of 250 million people. This can also act be a motivation for regional governments to compete in order to enhance the quality of PTS in their areas.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education, Mohamad Nasir, underlined the fact that equating higher education opportunities has become high on central priorities. This is to build superior human resources. He also said that one of the biggest current tasks is to strengthen the higher education in 3T areas and provide opportunity for the lower economic levels of society to study at college.

Link: http://www.antaranews.com/berita/620624/pts-berperan-strategis-meratakan-pendidikan-tinggi

 

 

Sebagian Siswa Kesetaraan Siap Jalani UNBK

Suara Pembaruan, halaman 16

Pelaksanaan Ujian Nasional (UN) 2017 unutk sekolah menengah atas (SMA) dan sederajat akan berlangsung pada 13-15 April 2017.Kepala Pusat Penilaian Pendidikan (Puspendik) Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, Nizam, mengatakan, persiapan UN berjalan lancar. Termasuk kesiapan Ujian Nasional Berbasis Komputer (UNBK) bagi siswa kesetaraan.

Dijelaskan Nizam, tahun ini merupakan tahun pertama Pendidikan Kesetaraan beralih pada UNBK. Untuk itu, melihat dan mempertimbangkan kesiapan siswa, pihaknya lantas melakukan simulasi. Pasalnya, simulasi ini menjadi pembelajaran yang sangat bermakna, tidak hanya bagi peserta, tetapi juga bagi pengelola Pusat Kegiatan Belajar Masyarakat (PKBM), Dinas Pendidikan, dan pemangku kepentingan pendidikan lainnya.

Simulasi UNBK bagi siswa kesetaraan dilakukan di 34 provinsi dan diikuti peserta didik dari Program Paket B dan C. Dijelaskan Nizam, simulasi diadakan untuk menepis kekhawatiran banyak pihak yang beranggapan UNBK itu sulit dan menyebabkan kecemasan di kalangan Dinas Pendidikan, pengelola dan peserta didik pendidikan kesetaraan.

Menurut Nizam, pada pelaksanaan UNBK, pemerintah menyediakan aplikasi yang sangat ramah. Para siswa yang pernah menggunakan ponsel dipastikan tidak mengalami kesulitan dalam mengoperasikan komputer. Selian itu, kemudajan pelaksanaan UNBK juga dirasakan sangat mudah saat siswa mengganti jawaban. Mengisi jawaban UNBK ini lebih praktis dikanti dengan cara mengklik atau memindahkan jawaban yang lain.

Some of the Equivalency Students Ready to Take UNBK

Suara Pembaruan, page 16

Implementation of the National Exam (UN) 2017 for senior high schools (SMA) and their equivalent will be held on April 13 to 15, 2017. Head of Center for Educational Assessment (Puspendik) of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Nizam, said that the preparation of UN had run smoothly. This included the readiness of the Computer-Based National Exam (UNBK) for equivalency students.

Nizam explained this year is the first year that the Equivalency Education has switched to UNBK. Therefore, his authority has conducted a simulation to assess the students’ readiness. This simulation brings with it learning benefits not only for the students but also for the managerial officials at the Community Learning Center (PKBM), Education Offices, and other education stakeholders.

UNBK Simulation for equivalency students was held in 34 provinces and followed by students of the Educational Program Packets B and C. Nizam explained that the simulation was held to eliminate the concerns of many parties that thought UNBK was difficult and caused anxiety among Education Offices, managerial officers, and students of equivalency education.

According to Nizam, the government provides a very friendly application on implementation of UNBK. Students who have used phones certainly have no difficulty in operating computers. They can change the answers easily. This can be done by clicking or moving to the other answer. Therefore, students will feel at ease with the UNBK.

 

 

 

 

41 Ribu Guru Uji Kompetensi Ulang

Jawa Pos, halaman 1

Selalu ada kesempatan kedua. Hal itu juga berlaku bagi 41.218 pengajar yang tidak lulu uji kompetensi guru (UKG) 2016. Mereka bisa mengikuti UKG ulang pada 25-29 April. Kebijakan menggelar UKG ulang itu tertuang dalam surat Direktorat Jendaral (Ditjen) Guru dan Tenaga Kependidikan Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan bertanggal 27 maret soal program sertifikasi guru 2017.

Ada dua agenda besar yang terkait dengan sertifikasi guru tahun ini. Yakni, pelaksanaan UKG ulang dan penetapan peserta sertifikasi 2017. Ujian ulang itu membuka kesempatan bagi guru untuk mendapatkan tunjangan profesi. Hal tersebut diapresiasi oleh Ketua Umum Ikatan Guru Indonesia (IGI) Muhammad Ramli Rahim. Menurut dia, para guru harus menyiapkan diri dengan lebih baik.

Puluhan ribu guru itu tidak lulus UKG karena tidak memenuhi nilai minimal. Yakni, 80 poin. Sejumlah kalangan menyebut angka kelulusan itu terlalu tinggi. Namun, angka tersebut tidak bisa ditawar. Sebab, konsekuensi yang didapat juga besar. Ramli mengatakan guru penerima tunjangan profersi memang harus guru profesional dengan standar kompetensi tinggi. Harapannya, uang negara yang digunakan untuk membayar tunjangan profesi guru dibalas dengan dampak pembelajaran yang berkualitas.

41 Thousand Teachers Retake Competency Test

Jawa Pos, page 1

There is always a second chance. It also applies to the 41,218 teachers who did not pass the 2016 teacher competency test (UKG).   They can follow the UKG retake on 25 – 29 April.   The policy to hold the UKG retake was stipulated in the letter of the Directorate General of (Ditjen) of Teachers and Education Personnel Ministry of Education and Culture dated 27 March on the 2017 teacher certification program.

There are two major agenda related to teacher certification this year; namely, the implementation of UKG retake and determination of the 2017 certification participants. The retake test provides opportunity for teachers to obtain professional allowance. It is appreciated by Chairman of the Indonesian Teachers Association (IGI) Muhammad Rahim Ramli. According to him, the teachers should better prepare themselves.

Tens of thousands of teachers did not pass the UKG because they did not meet the minimum grade of 80 points.  Some circles say the passing grade was too high. However, the figure is non-negotiable. Because the consequences obtained are also great.
Ramli said teacher recipients of professional allowances should indeed be professional teachers with high competency standards. Hopefully, the state money used to pay the teachers’ professional allowances is rewarded with impacts on quality learning.

Anak-Anak Bukan Alat Politik Praktis

Kompas, halaman 12

Anak bukan corong ataupun penambah jumlah massa di dalam kegiatan politik praktis. Pelibatan mereka di dalam politik justru melanggar hak mereka atas perlindungan, kesempatan memahami kebabasan berpikir, dan menarik mereka ke hal yang belum semestinya mereka alami. Komisioner Komisi Perlindungan Anak Indonesia (KPAI) Maria Ulfah Anshor mengatakan, orang-orang dewasa di sekitar anak jangan menanamkan wawasan kebangsaan selain Bhineka Tunggal Ika dan Pancasila.

Maria mengatakan, orangtua dan guru jangan paksakan ideologi politik mereka kepada anak dan menjadikan anak sebagai moda kampanye. Sekolah semestinya tempat anak belajar berbangsa dan bernegara, di dalamnya termasuk kemajemukan. Ia mengatakan, KPAI bersama Komisi Pemilihan Umum telah menandatangani nota kesepahaman bahwa anak tidak boleh diikutsertakan di dalam kampanye politik karena bertentangan dengan UU Pemilihan Kepala Daerah dan UU Perlindungan Anak.

Sementara itu, Ketua Yayasan Cahaya Guru, Henny Supolo Sitepu mengatakan, kewajiban orangtua dan guru adalah mengubah narasi diskriminatif yang ada di sekeliling anak menjadi narasi perdamaian dan keindahan. Di dalam proses itu, anak belajar mengenai kekuatan dia mencerna informasi menurut pola pikirnya. Orangtua dan guru memandu agar mereka bisa melihat informasi yang bias dari sisi lain.

Orangtua bisa berdialog dengan anak dan meminta tanggapan mereka atas narasi diskriminatif yang mereka lihat dari media sosial hingga spanduk di jalan. Khusus guru, mereka sejatinya tak boleh membawa pendapat pribadi atas politik ke dalam kelas. Guru justru harus mengembangkan kemerdekaan berpikir dan sikap kritis siswa karena dua hal itu merupakan modal siswa menjadi pemimpin di masa depan.

Children Not Tool for Practical Politics

Kompas, page, 12

Children are not the mouthpiece or an addition to the total number of masses in activities of practical politics. Their involvement in politics in fact violates their rights to protection, the opportunity to understand the freedom of thinking; instead it draws them to things that they should not yet experience. Commissioner of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) Maria Ulfah Anshor said adults around the child should not instill the concept of nationalism other than Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) and Pancasila (national ideology).

Maria said parents and teachers should not force their political ideologies on to children and make children as a mode of campaign.  The school should be a place for children to learn what it is to be a nation and a country, it includes plurality. She said KPAI together with the General Election Commission have signed a memorandum of understanding that children should not be included in political campaigns because it is against/ in breach of the Regional Head Election Act and the Child Protection Act.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Cahaya Guru Foundation, Henny Supolo Sitepu said, the obligation of parents and teachers is to change discriminatory narratives that surround the child into a narrative of peace and beauty. In the process, children learn about the power they have to digest information according to their pattern of thought.  Parents and teachers guide so that they could see the biased information from other angles.

Parents can engage in dialogue with children and ask their feedback on discriminatory narratives they see in social media to banners on the street.  Particularly teachers, they are actually not allowed to bring personal opinions on politics into the classroom. Teachers should in fact develop students’ independence of thought and students’ critical attitude because these two matters are the capital of students to become future leaders.