Friendly School Orientation Programme Receives Positive Response from Parents

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has stated that the implementation of the Friendly School Environment Introduction Period (MPLS Ramah) has received a positive response from parents because it helps new students adapt to school from the very first day. Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday that the Friendly MPLS is part of an effort to change the tradition of hazing into a school culture that is safe, comfortable, and respectful. Through the Friendly MPLS, Kemendikdasmen aims to build a school environment that fosters mutual respect, honours teachers, respects parents, and cultivates a love for knowledge. “We extend our gratitude to the teachers who continuously and sincerely give their best to educate the nation’s children. We also thank the parents who have entrusted us to guide their children to become an excellent generation of Indonesians,” he said. One parent of a student at SD Negeri 1 Binangga, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi Province, Imas Afriana, acknowledged the benefits of the Friendly MPLS that her daughter, Alzena Zunaira Khairunnisa, participated in. According to her, the various activities designed by the school made it easier for children to get to know their surroundings while fostering a spirit for learning. “The activities were fun and innovative. The school tour helped the children learn the function of each room, while the ice-breaking and group games really helped them adapt to the new environment,” she said. She hopes that schools will not only equip children with academic knowledge but also instil values of discipline, responsibility, politeness, and empathy from an early age. The Head of SD Negeri 1 Binangga, Rijena, explained that the entire MPLS programme was designed to help new students get to know the school environment, teachers, and their friends in a warm and pleasant atmosphere. One of the activities, ‘Getting to Know Friends and Teachers’, was conducted to help students feel more confident in building interactions from the start. According to her, a sense of security is the main foundation of the Friendly MPLS. Therefore, teachers act as companions who are present to assist students throughout the activities, from welcoming them at the school gate to guiding them through learning activities packaged as games. “Without a sense of security, comfort and joy cannot be created. We want every student to feel accepted and confident in learning in their new environment,” she said. She also appreciated the active support of parents who collaborated with the school during the MPLS implementation. She assessed that this collaboration is one of the keys to creating a good adaptation process for new students. “We hope that after this MPLS, students will feel safe and comfortable learning at SD Negeri 1 Binangga, and have a new spirit to participate in the learning process going forward,” she said.