In a concerted effort to bolster educational standards in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province, the Education Quality Assurance Agency (BPMP) and the Education Quality Assurance Agency (BGP) have embarked on a collaborative endeavor to uplift teacher competency. The initiative, titled "Peningkatan Kompetensi Guru dalam Implementasi Kebijakan Merdeka Belajar melalui Pendekatan Kemitraan antara 7 SCI, BGP NTT, dan BPMP NTT" (Teacher Competency Improvement in Implementing the Independent Learning Policy) is being pursued through a strategic partnership involving 7 SEAMEO Centres in Indonesia, BGP NTT, and BPMP NTT.
The inaugural ceremony, held from 4 March to 7 March 2022, witnessed the signing of a pivotal cooperation agreement between 7 SCI, BGP NTT, BPMP NTT, as well as local authorities from Kupang Regency and Kupang City. More than 240 educators from these regions convened at the Neo Hotel Kupang to participate in the comprehensive training program.
Addressing the gathering, the Director of SEAMEO CECCEP, Prof Vina Adriany PhD, representing SEAMEO centers in Indonesia expressed the centers' commitment to helping the government achieve by increasing teacher capacity. She underscored the paramount importance of enhancing teacher capacity in advancing the educational agenda. Emphasizing the pivotal role of educators in fostering quality education, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between global educational standards and local contexts. It is envisaged that the trained educators will serve as catalysts for knowledge dissemination among their peers.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Regent of Kupang highlighted the imperative of addressing the educational challenges prevalent in the region. He underscored the integration of education performance assessment into regional education report cards and expressed concern over the subpar literacy, numeracy, and character skills among students. "From the results of the national assessment, literacy and numeracy skills and character in the NTT province do not meet national competency," he said. The Ministry of Education's unwavering commitment to resolving these issues underscores the seriousness with which the government is tackling educational reform.
Echoing the sentiment, he applauded the SEAMEO-led initiative as a beacon of hope for improving learning outcomes in Kupang. Emphasizing the humanizing aspect of education, he hailed the series of activities as a concerted effort to uplift the people of NTT province.
As the initiative gains momentum, stakeholders remain optimistic about its potential to drive positive change and foster a conducive learning environment for students across NTT province.