Govt defends non-degree teachers training program<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government defended it policy to continue a
\nspecial training program for elementary school teachers
\nyesterday, despite criticism of low-quality graduates emerging
\nfrom the high-profile program.<\/p>\n
\"The program has only been running for two years. Don't
\ncompare it to a program which has been implemented for 10 years,\"
\nsaid the Ministry of Education and Culture's Director General of
\nHigher Education Bambang Soehendro.<\/p>\n
The government introduced the ambitious two-year, non-degree
\nprogram, known as PGSD, shortly after the government phased out
\nelementary teacher schools in 1989.<\/p>\n
Teacher training schools, or SPG, are equivalent to senior
\nhigh schools. The government, however, has decided to phase them
\nout as a step to upgrade the quality of elementary school
\nteachers.<\/p>\n
Legislators earlier this week criticized the PGSD program,
\nsaying that it needed a better, more conducive system which would
\nenable its students to learn properly.<\/p>\n
Wuryanto, a legislator from Commission IX of the House of
\nRepresentatives which oversees educational and cultural affairs,
\nsaid that the PGSD program should at least expose students to
\ndorm life, which used to be an important aspect of teacher
\nschools during the colonial times.<\/p>\n
\"By living in dorms, a conducive atmosphere encouraging good
\nteaching habits, such as preparing for a teaching session the
\nnext day, can be encouraged. It is a place where a future
\nteacher's character is molded,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Bambang pointed out that the quality of PGSD students and
\ngraduates could not be compared to those from SPG.<\/p>\n
\"One thing you can't deny is that no matter how bad an
\neducation system is, it won't make you more stupid,\" he pointed
\nout.<\/p>\n
He said that current PGSD students were required to live in
\ndorms for at least one semester.<\/p>\n
\"We have started building dorms. In the future we expect to
\nhave at least one dorm for each PGSD. Presently, those studying
\nunder scholarship programs -- which account for a third of all
\nPGSD students -- are required to live in dorms until they
\ngraduate,\" he said. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-defends-non-degree-teachers-training-program-1447893297",
"image": ""
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