Malinau produces 95 master's degree teachers for inclusive education
The Malinau Regency Government, North Kalimantan Province, is strengthening education quality by enhancing teacher competence, with 95 teachers from kindergarten to junior high school levels having achieved master’s degrees at Yogyakarta State University (UNY).
Malinau Regional Secretary Ernes Silvanus stated on Sunday that these 95 teachers participated in the master’s programme graduation ceremony (yudisium) at UNY on Friday (31/7). The graduates include 12 kindergarten teachers, 45 primary school teachers, and 38 junior high school teachers who successfully completed the Master of Education (M.Pd.) programme.
According to Ernes, this achievement is not the end of the learning process but the beginning of a greater responsibility to dedicate their knowledge to the community, particularly in improving the quality of education in Malinau Regency. The programme is part of the Master’s Programme in Inclusive Education, a result of the collaboration between the Malinau Regency Government and UNY, which has been established since the beginning of Regent Wempi W. Mawa’s administration.
Ernes emphasised that inclusive education is a shared commitment to ensuring every child has equal learning opportunities, regardless of physical, intellectual, social, cultural, or economic conditions. He added that Malinau’s vast geography and cultural diversity require educators who are not only academically excellent but also possess the compassion and spirit to serve all students without discrimination.
As a form of support for improving human resource quality, the Malinau Regency Government has allocated an estimated budget of Rp28 billion for the 2021–2026 period to support civil servants in pursuing undergraduate and master’s degrees through various schemes, including study permits, study assignments, and scholarships.
“This is a future investment. We who are working today may not necessarily enjoy the results, but we are confident that investment in human resources will become a great strength for Malinau in the future,” he said.
Ernes reminded the newly minted master’s degree holders to treat their academic achievements as a moral responsibility to provide a real contribution to regional educational progress. He expressed hope that the graduates would become agents of change in their respective schools, serving as role models for other educators and sharing their knowledge with the community.
He reaffirmed that improving the quality of educators and human resources will remain a priority agenda for the Malinau Regency Government through strengthened cooperation with universities and various educational institutions.