Four Pillars Quiz Competition Serves as Character Education and Nationalism Strengthening Platform
Member of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) from the Regional Representatives Council for East Kalimantan Province, Aji Mirni Mawarni, stated that the MPR Four Pillars Quiz Competition (LCC) is not merely a contest but also a platform for character education to strengthen nationalism. She made the remarks while opening the 2026 East Kalimantan provincial-level LCC in Balikpapan today.
“Dear students, this LCC is not just a competition to test your theoretical national insight. It is a vessel for character education for the younger generation. We hope that after this competition, the values of Pancasila are not only memorised but truly practised in daily life to safeguard national unity,” Mirni said in a statement on Saturday (13/6/2026).
On the occasion, she also enthusiastically welcomed participants from nine schools that advanced to the provincial preliminary round. The qualifying schools are SMA Nasional KPS, SMAN 1 Tenggarong, SMAN 10 Samarinda, MAN Kutai Barat, SMAN 2 Berau, SMAN 1 Sanggatta Utara, SMKN 1 Bontang, SMAN 1 Bontang, and MAN Insan Cendekia Paser.
Mirni expressed that true victory is born from an honest and fair process. Therefore, sportsmanship must be upheld and the results accepted graciously. “Respect the jury’s decision, respect your opponents, and prioritise honesty above all else. Good luck in the competition and give it your best! As encouragement, for the team that wins and represents East Kalimantan in Jakarta, God willing, I will provide additional pocket money,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Head of the Education Office Branch for Region 1 of East Kalimantan Province, Winarno, hoped that the MPR Four Pillars LCC would continue to be held. According to him, the competition encourages the creation of a generation that is well-versed in the Four Pillars of the MPR. “Hopefully this event will continue because it is very effective in providing deeper insight and implementation of national values for our students, especially at the high school and vocational levels. We realise that national values have somewhat faded. Hopefully, with the spirit of the Four Pillars, these values will be revived,” he said.
Winarno also recalled that during his school days, before the amendments, Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution were studied very rigorously. Therefore, the latest developments resulting from the amendments must be massively socialised, one way being through this LCC. “Now, after several amendments, the structure has developed significantly and many children today may not be very familiar with it. Through this LCC, the material is explored again. We also hope for a future development programme in the form of Technical Guidance specifically for Civic Education teachers, promoted directly by the MPR RI,” he explained.
Previously, all participants had also received material briefings during a technical meeting from the Head of the MPR Secretariat General’s Bureau for Session Affairs and Constitutional Socialisation, Wahid Nugroho. “You students sitting here, representatives from nine schools, are the best teams that have passed the selection at the district and city levels. Your passing grade is extraordinary, above 90. That means out of 100 questions, you got less than 10 wrong. Let’s give ourselves a round of applause!” he said.
He emphasised several innovations in the competition, including the implementation of a VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system. Thus, if there is a dispute or dissatisfaction with the results, the jury inspector will reassess using video recordings that can be viewed together. “We are taking this step so that the competition runs more openly, honestly, and accountably,” he stressed.
The participants also had to go through three preliminary sessions. The first session is “Four Pillars Insight”, where each team must answer questions quickly and accurately in turns. The second session shifts to a ‘Thematic’ format, requiring teamwork to present arguments for and against a case study determined through a random spin draw. Finally, the ‘Scramble’ session serves as the ultimate test, pitting individual agility against one another to answer questions independently without teammates’ assistance. All these sessions involve a panel of judges from academicians at Mulawarman University, East Kalimantan, namely Alim Salamah, S.Pd., M.Pd; Nur Fitri Handayani, S.Pd, M.Pd; and Triandi Bimankalid, S.H., M.H.
Also present at the opening ceremony were the Head of the MPR Secretariat General’s Bureau for Session Affairs and Constitutional Socialisation, Wahid Nugroho, and his staff. Also in attendance were the Head of the Education Office Branch for Region 1 of East Kalimantan Province, Dr. Winarno, S.Pd., M.Pd; the Head of the High School Development Division of the East Kalimantan Education and Culture Office, Muhammad Jasniansyah; and all accompanying teachers of the participants.