Manggarai Barat, September 2,
2024 - SEAMEO CECCEP (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization
Regional Centre for Early Childhood Care Education and Parenting) held a
training session aimed at enhancing the competence of Early Childhood Care Education
(ECCE) teachers in Manggarai Barat Regency, NTT. This training, which took
place from September 2 to 4, 2024, aimed to improve the overall quality of
education in the region.
The training was specifically
designed to provide new insights and skills to ECCE teachers, so they can
create more engaging, innovative, and meaningful learning experiences. The
Department of Youth Education and Sports of Manggarai Barat emphasized that
this activity aligns with the Medium-Term Development Plan of Manggarai Barat,
which focuses on improving the quality of healthy, skilled, and competitive
human resources.
In his speech, the Head of the
Manggarai Barat Education Department, Drs. Jhohanes Hani, M.Pd., stated that
the participation rate of children in ECCE in the region had reached 5.7
percent. However, the main challenge faced is improving the quality of educators,
as many ECCE teachers have not yet received adequate training. "We hope
that through this training, ECCE teachers in Manggarai Barat can enhance their
competencies and provide higher quality education," said Drs. Jhohanes.
This training is also part of the local government's efforts to improve
teachers' competence in implementing the independent curriculum in ECCE
environments.
Ith Vuthy, Deputy Director for
Programs at SEAMEO CECCEP, expressed high appreciation for the strong
cooperation with the Government of Manggarai Barat Regency. He also introduced
various SEAMEO CECCEP programs aimed at enhancing teachers' competencies and
stressed the importance of realizing quality ECCE.
A total of 150 PAUD teachers
participated in the training. Drs. Cristoforus Mansuhati, Head of Education
Personnel for primary and junior secondary schools, explained that participants
would receive relevant materials to improve the quality of early childhood
education, including play-based learning methods, contextual learning, and
fostering positive interactions between educators and children. The training
would also discuss the implementation of the independent curriculum in ECCE.
He emphasized that this training
was made possible through the collaboration between SEAMEO CECCEP, the
Government of Manggarai Barat Regency, and the Department of Youth Education
and Sports. Jhon, the Head of the Manggarai Barat Education Department, highlighted
that this training is part of the implementation of the cooperation agreement
between the local government and SEAMEO CECCEP. "This is a concrete step
to strengthen quality early childhood education in our region," said Jhon.
In her presentation, Mrs. Dona, a
representative from the Directorate of ECCE, emphasized the importance of
collaboration with various professionals, including psychologists and general
practitioners, to support holistic and integrative educational services. She
also highlighted the importance of parental involvement and monitoring the
essential service needs of children.
With this training, it is hoped
that ECCE teachers in Manggarai Barat will be able to develop quality learning
methods, foster children's interests and talents, and create a safe and
enjoyable learning environment. Additionally, it is crucial to ensure that
every child's rights are fulfilled, including the right to education, play, and
voice their opinions.
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