Student Councils Urged to Become Forums for Student Voices and Character Development
Student organisations are not merely platforms for school activities; they can also provide space to practise leadership, express student concerns and develop programmes that respond to students’ needs. Strengthening character, co-operation and programme-planning skills is important for student council members seeking to build a positive school culture.
This approach was put into practice at Leadership Camp 2026, attended by 55 members of the 2026/2027 student council at SMAN 5 Tidore Kepulauan on 2–3 October 2026. The camp gave students an opportunity to develop several programmes, including a Student Complaints System, Religious Day and School Production, which will draw on local folklore.
The training, held at SMAN 5 Tidore Kepulauan, was part of the Lighthouse School Program (LSP), a collaboration between the North Maluku Provincial Government and Putera Sampoerna Foundation (PSF). The programme equips students with leadership skills and supports character development.
Under the theme “Lead With Heart”, participants were introduced to five core values: honesty, empathy, accountability, resilience and co-operation. Alongside developing student council programmes, they were trained to put together portfolios showcasing their potential, achievements and leadership experience.
Ardila Usman, the student council’s first secretary, said the training helped the new committee build communication and unity. The experience, she said, covered not only leadership but also teamwork and decision-making.
“Leadership Camp was a particularly memorable experience. I learnt a great deal, not only about leadership, but also about working together, communicating, making decisions and taking responsibility within a team. The activities also helped those of us who had not previously been very close to get to know one another better and build unity as an organisation,” Ardila said in a statement received on Saturday (10 October 2026).
Sofia M.T. Marsaoly, head of SMAN 5 Tidore Kepulauan, said character-building was essential to preparing students to lead organisations. Leadership developed at school, she said, should focus not only on work programmes but also on how students build relationships and foster a positive culture.
“Leadership Camp 2026, with the theme ‘Lead With Heart’, is highly inspiring in shaping students’ leadership character, so they can lead wholeheartedly and build a positive school culture,” she said.
Programmes such as the Student Complaints System provide a more structured channel for students to raise concerns and share feedback. Meanwhile, the School Production project, based on local folklore, gives students an opportunity to develop their creativity while introducing regional culture through school activities.
Developing student leadership is ultimately about more than the ability to manage an organisation. Listening to students’ concerns, working in teams, making decisions and developing local potential are skills that students can take into the wider community.