The quality of education in remote areas is still in need of improvement. Less than optimal quality of teaching is one of the main contributing factors to low levels of literacy skills and other learning outcomes among Indonesian students. The government, with community support, has been making an effort to improve the quality of education in remote areas. Thus, the West Sulawesi Education Quality Assurance Council (Indonesian: Lembaga Penjamin Mutu Pendidikan, LPMP) will be collaborating with Ninos Education & Development to improve the quality of education. Especially elementary education in the six districts of West Sulawesi.

The MoU signing was done in the West Sulawesi LPMP Building. This signing was represented by the Head of West Sulawesi LPMP, Mr. Sinar Alam S.Pd M.Pd., and the Director of Ninos, Mrs. Mega Indrawati.

On Monday (08/11/2021), this MoU was held with the theme of Capacity Building of Teachers and Education Personnel and Community Participation in Improving the Quality of Education in West Sulawesi. The MoU, which will be binding for three years, aims to improve the quality of education by developing the capacity of relevant stakeholders to improve student learning outcomes in West Sulawesi. The target for capacity building is educators and education personnel, supervisors, the Education Office, and the LPMP office. 

Actualizing wide, equitable access to education requires strengthening the education programs in West Sulawesi. Areas of capacity building include literacy (improvement of reading skills with comprehension, Development of Local Contextual Teaching and Reading Materials, Character Building and Life Skills, Disaster-safe Education Units, Education in Emergency Situations (natural disasters, social conflicts, COVID-19 pandemic)), Psychosocial support from educators and education personnel to students, health education (Health Protocol to Prevent the Spread of the COVID-19 virus, PHBS, CTPS, Menstrual Hygiene Management, WASH in schools), and Protection and Prevention of Violence against students.

The scope of activities includes capacity building with training, workshops, talk shows, webinars, informant involvement, and also production of learning products: modules, books, guides, storybooks, pocketbooks, and educational information communication materials (KIE).

On this occasion, a Partnership Agreement was also signed for the 2021 fiscal year. The 2021 agreement includes increasing the capacity of teachers from six districts in West Sulawesi with several workshops, namely, literacy, child protection and bullying, character development and life skills, and creating contextual teaching materials. The signing of this MoU is part of the opening of a series of workshops carried out by Ninos during November 2021.

Author : Kunti Novelota – Communication Officer at Ninos Education & Development