East Kalimantan expands Sekolah Garuda Transformasi programme to four schools

The East Kalimantan provincial government targets the expansion of the Sekolah Garuda Transformasi programme by designating four senior high schools (SMA) as centres of excellence to accelerate equitable international-standard education in Bumi Etam. Acting Head of the East Kalimantan Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Office (Disdikbud), Armin, stated in Samarinda on Wednesday that the programme focuses on selected schools to create broader, tangible, and measurable impacts. “Until now, SMA Negeri 10 Samarinda has been the pioneer implementing this programme since 2025. That school serves as a role model, particularly in strengthening international classes using English as the primary language of instruction,” Armin said. First, SMA Negeri 2 Sangatta Utara is projected as a centre for developing international classes outside the provincial capital. Second, SMA Negeri 3 Tenggarong is prepared to implement the international programme while being developed into a boarding school. Third, SMA Negeri 1 Balikpapan is targeted to join this ecosystem starting in 2026. Armin revealed that results from the programme are already showing significant achievements at SMAN 10 Samarinda. This year, the school successfully placed 30 students into various overseas universities with a total of 84 Letters of Acceptance (LoA). This figure has surged sharply compared to the previous year, which recorded only four students. “This achievement proves that the Sekolah Garuda Transformasi intervention delivers very positive results in enhancing students’ global competitiveness,” Armin added. To support this ambition, Disdikbud Kaltim implements two main strategies to ensure optimal transformation: comprehensive training by enhancing teacher and principal capacities through cutting-edge teaching method and language competency training. Second, intensive mentoring by ensuring that training materials are truly applied in daily teaching and learning activities, not just theory. The Sekolah Garuda Transformasi programme is part of a national policy initiated by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. Its goal is to create educational institutions capable of producing graduates with global competencies while maintaining strong national character roots.