Terms of SM3T Modified

Republika, page 5

The government changed the terms of the Undergraduates Educating in Outermost, Frontier and Disadvantaged (SM3T) Regions program with the requirements of Teacher Professional Education (PPG). The new requirements are in accordance with Law 14 of 2005 on Teachers and Lecturers, and Law 12 of 2012 on Higher Education.

Director of Learning of the Directorate General of Learning and Student Affairs (Belmawa) Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Kemristekdikti) Paristiyanti Nurwardani said the government has reviewed the requirements for the SM3T program in 2016.

So far, she continued, Kemristekdikti prepared 3,000 SM3T teachers every year. Later, the government deems the regulation within PPG meets requirements in the preparation of SM3T prospective teachers, namely formal education after S1 with the addition of a one year learning process.

Paristiyanti revealed, based on Kemendikbud data, primary schools (SD) are experiencing a shortage of 200 thousand teachers. In addition, the government is also in shortage of productive teachers for vocational high schools (SMK) a total of 91,861. He said that the new requirements will provide opportunities for S1 graduates (undergraduates) both fresh graduates as well as those who are experienced to be PPG students. Earlier, the government required that in the SM3T program, PPG prospective students must be fresh graduates.

This year, she continued, there is a replacement program called PPG through Hybrid or Blended Learning.  The Hybrid Learning program, she explained, could not only provide 3,000 teachers, but could be up to 10 thousand teachers in a year.

She explained that the government will call again the 3,007 scholars who followed SM3T to follow PPG for one year.mShe said the government wants to combine good learning resources in order to obtain better learning outcomes.