January 24, 2023

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Retrospection of 2022 Teacher's Day Commemoration, The Importance of Collaboration Amid Education Disruption

Teacher’s role in Indonesian society has been very crucial and decisive from the start

Since the struggle for independence, teachers have become important drivers of social change in Indonesian society.

Teacher’s role in Indonesian society has been very crucial and decisive from the start. Since the struggle for independence, teachers have become important drivers of social change in Indonesian society. As a result, in order to celebrate the commemoration of the 77th National Teacher's Day, PT Trakindo Utama (Trakindo), a provider of Cat® heavy equipment solution in Indonesia invites the Indonesian public to support the teachers' readiness to face various challenges in carrying out the noble task to enrich the nation's life. Since 2010, Trakindo has held various educational programs at the elementary level, in the form of school assistance such as school governance and teacher capacity development. Then, in 2021, Gerakan Transformasi Edukasi (Generasi) Trakindo was introduced as a more comprehensive program designed to produce competent students while at the same time developing the teachers’ capacity to undertake their roles amid today's challenges and disruptions.

Yulia Yasmina, Chief Administration Officer of Trakindo, stated Indonesian teachers’ efforts have driven social change at all times. Teachers have a vital role in preparing high quality future generations. In facing various challenges, teachers and teaching staff continue to find new ways to increase students' learning capacities. "Trakindo always appreciates teachers’ endeavors and we strive to continue to support them by designing many programs aimed at assisting their needs in the teaching and learning process," said Yulia.

The education sector is one of the most disrupted fields in the midst of transformation and transition due to technological advancements, and then it is also heavily affected by the pandemic. Some of the obstacles encountered include teachers who are unable to optimally utilize the use of technology; then in the ecosystem to support the learning process, students do not have access to online learning, and for the parents, they face  difficulty to share time between working and accompanying their children, and also health factors.

The biggest impact that was felt directly by the teachers as a result of this disruption was the reduced enthusiasm and excitement of students. To deal with this urgent situation, adjustment in models, practices, teaching and learning processes, also the operating systems of educational institutions are necessary so that students have adequate resources. This is where the teachers have a role in formulating suitable learning forms and methods so that students can absorb them optimally. This adjustment is one of the main challenges in the current teaching and learning process.

Responding to the challenges and also the role of the teacher in current conditions, Endang Gultom - Teacher at SD Negeri 005 Sekupang, Batam, Riau Islands explained how finding the right method, namely understanding the students’ character so that their needs are facilitated, are challenging. “We are expected to be able to provide a learning system in accordance with the needs of the students. To find out the character of students or group students based on those needs is quite difficult. Especially during the pandemic, teachers cannot optimally dig information through the teaching and learning process, so we have to work harder to improve students' abilities as well as shape their character," said Endang Gultom.  

Teaching and learning activities during the COVID-19 pandemic admittedly need particular attention, especially in terms of technology adaptation. A research by Inovasi untuk Anak Sekolah Indonesia (INOVASI) which  include around 300 parents of elementary school students from 18 different districts and cities, found that 47% of their children did not get assignments from the teacher, compared to children who have access to online learning through internet. 47% of those subjects were parents of whom the majority  orked as farmers and only had elementary school education background.

Therefore, a lot of additional training is needed for teachers regarding various assignment models or technology-based learning, so that all students have equal opportunity to education and the same learning experience. In its effort to support teachers in facing these  hallenges, Trakindo introduced the Generasi Trakindo program, an educational program that works in collaboration with educational institutions at the elementary level. This    
program seeks to support the strengthening of character education, life skills, and innovation culture in elementary schools by placing students as the focus of the activities. "In practice of the program, the support provided includes the implementation of structured school development programs, interventions in the form of school-based training and mentoring, with focus on improving school governance, preparing a learning environment, cultivating character, integrating Project-Based Learning (PjBL) & Challenge- Based Learning (CBL), as well as involving parents and the community in building a culture of innovation through intra curricular and extracurricular activities," added Yulia.

“When I participated in Generasi Trakindo, I learned that process-oriented forms of learning are also important. We apply the PjBL method in cooperating with external parties so that we are more open to try something new, and we also feel the effect on students, it shows when they ask more questions and are more creative, collaborative, and innovative. Their enthusiasm increased. They become more courageous in making decisions and creating innovations, especially innovations that are useful for the  nvironment in which they live," explained Ni Nengah Martiyani - Teacher at SDN 46 Cakranegara, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara.

Likewise, Lantji Laky Djami - Teacher at SD Inpres Nunbaun Delha, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, saw the changes in the students after participating in the Generasi Trakindo training, when accompanying them to visit and ask questions directly to several parties such as the local government's office, health office, and craftsmen. “At first they were very shy, they didn't want to ask questions, other teachers and I helped convince and motivate them to be more confident. After the first visit, they were happier and more keen to meet new people from different backgrounds," said Lantji. She continues, developments in student character are visible, such as being more disciplined time wise when they’re going to interviews and being responsible for the assignments given by the teacher.

In addition, various obstacles also become easier to face with the collaboration of various elements, such as between the teachers, teachers - parents, as well as teachers - students. "If there are parents who don't have access to smartphones and have trouble filling internet credit for their children, the teachers will go to the students’ house and teach them while also maintaining the health protocol. That's what we can do when we face challenges," explained Lantji.

On the momentum of the 77th National Teacher's Day, Trakindo emphasized its commitment to support the enrichment of the nation's education through implementation of various programs that benefit schools at every level of education. Apart from the elementary level, Trakindo also fulfills its commitment of strengthening education continuously at various levels with Generasi Trakindo for junior high schools, and the Trakindo CO-OP program for the vocational high school and higher education levels. "This is a form of harmony between the persistent commitment to actualize Trakindo’s company mission, namely, to create quality jobs for as many people as possible. Happy National Teacher's Day, hopefully all teachers will always be enthusiastic in preparing Indonesia’s children who are intelligent, innovative, adaptive, and have Pancasila character," concluded Yulia.