SEAMEO CECCEP visited the office of the Ministry of National
Development Planning of the Republic of Indonesia/National Development Planning
Agency or Kementerian Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional Republik Indonesia/Badan
Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional (BAPPENAS) on April 3, 2024. The purpose of
this visit was to explore the potential for collaboration in the field of early
childhood education (ECD). The discussion became an important forum in
providing input to the National Medium-Term Development Plan or Rencana
Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Nasional (RPJMN) 2025-2029.
In a lively atmosphere, Professor Vina Adriany and her team
were received by Mr. Didik Darmanto, Director of Religion, Education, and
Culture, and Mr. Sularsono, Associate Expert Planner of BAPPENAS. However, the
visit was not merely ceremonial. Mr. Sularsono emphasized the urgency of the
13-year compulsory education program, with a special emphasis on the study of
one year of compulsory PAUD in the Southeast Asian region. In fact, for areas
that do not yet have ECD institutions, it is planned to be implemented under
one roof with primary schools, forming a strong foundation for equitable early
education.
Discussions flowed towards research collaboration, with
SEAMEO CECCEP offering valuable data and insights to assist BAPPENAS in
formulating more inclusive and progressive education policies. One of the main
highlights was the crucial role of Holistic Integrative ECD (HI ECD) in
building the foundation of education in Indonesia. BAPPENAS highlighted the
need for clear guidelines for the implementation of HI ECD at the local level,
while SEAMEO CECCEP brought contributions of broad regional insights.
However, the discussion did not focus solely on ECD. Issues
such as early childhood development indicators (ECDIs), addressing stunting,
and improving the quality of ECD teachers were also hot topics. Policy
breakthroughs such as the integration between ECD and basic education, as well
as the establishment of one roof between ECD and primary school, signaled the
government's seriousness in providing quality education for future generations.
This visit symbolizes the joint commitment of various parties
to improve the quality of early childhood education in Indonesia. SEAMEO
CECCEP, as the frontline in the development of children's education in the
region, is ready to continue collaborating in designing programs that will lead
Indonesia to a brighter future for its next generation.
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