UNJ and ISPI unite ideas to support teacher education reform

Jakarta State University (UNJ) together with the Indonesian Education Scholars Association (ISPI) united ideas to formulate the direction of teacher education reform so that it better suits the needs of Indonesian education through a Seminar and Workshop (Semiloka) titled ‘Teachers and Teacher Education in Indonesia’. The activity, organised together with rectors of Teacher Training Institutions (LPTK), the Communication Forum of State FKIP Deans (Forkom FKIP), and the Forum of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training Deans (Fordetak), brought together the government, teacher training universities, professional organisations, and education stakeholders. Member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives and member of the Legislation Body for the National Education System Bill (RUU Sisdiknas), Ferdiansyah, said teacher education is an important part of human resource development. ‘Teachers cannot be separated from efforts to prepare the Indonesian generation towards 2045. Therefore, improving teacher education must be a concern in the formulation of national education policy,’ he said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday. The activity is relevant amid the discussion of the RUU Sisdiknas which has been submitted to the Legislation Body of the Indonesian House of Representatives. Thus, the discussion on teachers and teacher education has become one of the important agendas to provide input for the formulation of national education regulations. Meanwhile, ISPI Chairman Prof. Solehudin said teacher education reform needs to be carried out comprehensively, from academic education to professional education. According to him, LPTKs have an important position in ensuring prospective teachers receive education that meets standards and school needs. ‘Teacher education is not only about the process of producing graduates, but also about ensuring prospective teachers have the competencies needed when entering the profession,’ he said. On the same occasion, UNJ Rector Prof. Komarudin said UNJ as a teacher training university supports the forum that brings together the government and LPTKs to discuss the future of teacher education. ‘Teacher education reform needs to be carried out in an integrated manner, from academic education, professional education, to teacher governance. LPTKs need to be involved in formulating policies so that the design of teacher education suits the needs of education in the field,’ he said. A number of strategic issues were discussed in the semiloka. One of them relates to the nomenclature of LPTK which in Law Number 14 of 2005 is referred to as the Teacher Training Institution. In the forum, an idea emerged to review the term to become the Higher Education Institution for Teacher Training. Participants also discussed the curriculum and learning system of teacher academic education, Teacher Professional Education (PPG), the selection system for prospective teachers, teacher placement and appointment, and teacher development. The discussion was directed at formulating teacher education standards covering LPTK institutions, the selection system for prospective teachers, undergraduate academic education, and professional education. The semiloka targeted the birth of recommendations regarding teacher and teacher education issues, the design of academic and professional education, and teacher education governance. These recommendations are expected to become input in the refinement of the RUU Sisdiknas. In addition to policy recommendations, the forum was directed at building commitment between the government and LPTKs in preparing teachers. Participants were also expected to formulate ideas regarding the design of teacher education curricula at the undergraduate and professional education levels.