Science program for primary school pupils<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of National Education with the
\nsupport of the federal government of Germany have started
\nintroducing the Science Education Quality Improvement Project
\n(SEQIP) in seven provinces.<\/p>\n
The project involves a total of 18,000 elementary schools with
\n2.2 million students and no less than 36,000 teachers.<\/p>\n
\"We want students in elementary schools to understand basic
\nscience through a fun learning process,\"
\ndirector general for Elementary and Secondary Education Indra
\nDjati Sidi said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The massive project, expected to end in December 2002, would
\nbe introduced to forth and sixth grade pupils in Jakarta, Central
\nJava, East Java, South Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and
\nIrian Jaya.<\/p>\n
The science tool kits for students and teachers complete with
\nhandbooks were officially distributed to the provinces from the
\nministry's warehouse in Ciketing, Bekasi on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Present at the ceremony were German Ambassador to Indonesia
\nGerhard Fula and SEQIP project consultant Manfred Genze.<\/p>\n
\"We really hope that by doing concrete learning, children
\nwould learn more and begin to love science. It is impossible for
\nIndonesia to develop if the country lacks engineers,\" Ambassador
\nGerhard said.<\/p>\n
Among the tools were puzzles on animals, posters on human
\ndigestion and the metabolic process, simple experiments on lamps,
\nbatteries and electricity, and picture cards on different types
\nof food and animals.<\/p>\n
According to SEQIP team leader Otto Hammes, a whopping 10-
\nmillion Deutsche Mark grant channeled through GTZ (Deutsche
\nGesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit) along with a 24
\nmillion DM soft loan from KfW (Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau)
\nhave been provided to support the program which had actually
\nstarted operating since October 1996.<\/p>\n
\"The Indonesian government, however, contributed a total of Rp
\n16.4 billion from the state budget,\" Hammes added.<\/p>\n
The system and the science kits have been tested in a
\npreliminary orientation project in 161 schools from April 1994 to
\nSept. 1996 in five provinces, namely South Sulawesi, West Nusa
\nTenggara (NTB), East Java, Jakarta and Riau.<\/p>\n
\"We conducted this project through certain quality control
\nmethods with training for the teachers and science tutors. In the
\ncurrent project, we have some 1,200 tutors,\" Indra Djati
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
The ongoing scheme would provide 18,000 science kits for
\nteachers, 9,000 kits for students, 9,000 cupboards, 18,000 pole
\nstands, 3,000 science apparatuses and 18,000 handbooks.<\/p>\n
\"It is time for pupils to learn concrete science. These kits
\ninclude several materials such as coal, crude oil and mineral
\nores that will be useful to help students understand the process
\nof nature,\" Indra said.<\/p>\n
He said the program was aimed at making teachers and students
\ninteract more and to stimulate their analytical thinking.<\/p>\n
\"At the same time, they will learn discipline. Pupils will be
\nable to know the reason why electricity produces light and learn
\nthe basic concepts of the solar system and planets.. such as the
\ndifference between day and night.<\/p>\n
\"All of this will be done in a fun and cheerful way so they
\nwon't end up hating science like in the previous approach.
\nScience is interesting and everybody can apply it in their life,\"
\nIndra said.<\/p>\n
The project is expected to be extended for another four years
\nafter its completion, pending further talks, he added.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully the project will be followed (by projects) in the
\nfield of social science and mathematics,\" Indra Djati said. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/science-program-for-primary-school-pupils-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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