Abstrak AA-APERA 2012

Give and Join Hands to Improve State Education and Realize The Indonesian Freedom Commitments through Gerakan Indonesia Mengajar Movement

By Kiar Vansa Febrianti, State University of Jakarta

Understanding education is to know that it is not a mere tool to smarten people but also a tool to change social-economic degree, because education is an escalator to elevate left behind and dependent common people into improved and independent ones. Education is a people movement, not only government's duty. One of real examples is the founding of "Gerakan Indonesia Mengajar" (GIM - Indonesia Teaching Movement) in the end of 2009 by Anies Baswedan, the rector of Paramadina University.

This program has double targets. First is to fulfill lack of qualified elementary school teachers in remote areas by sending the best alumnus of state universities who have been trained intensively to master pedagogic and leading skill, to serve as a teacher for one year. Second is for training potential best youths to be a visionary leader who understands and comprehends the puzzle of people problems radically.

Young teacher is a name for GIM-trained teacher. Since the middle of 2010, Indonesia Mengajar has put 170 young teachers of 1.383 applicants who passed hard selection in 16 jregions. Before released to various country sides, the young teachers must attend a whole series of training for seven weeks in Ciawi, Bogor, to build their motivation, disciplinary, teaching knowledge and skillsi, leadership and managerial, how to adapt in local society, and autonomy.

Indonesia Mengajar puts the best alumnus in all over the country. The presence of the young teacher is to teach, to educate, to inspire and to be connector between remote civilians and improvement. Inspired by The Freedom Commitments to smarten people, Indonesia has a lot of youths who serve loyally as teachers in some period at remote areas which is nearly primitive (no transports, phone signal, even water), yet spread optimism, inspiration, and become the window of improvement in grass root level.

Someday, Indonesia will be fulfilled by new leaders who have world class competence and grass root understandings. That leaders will be born from among best youths at their generation who is given an opportunity to live, stay, work, and interact in the world of education along with the people in all over places, including remote areas. Indonesia Mengajar is the best possible movement to improve Indonesian education and realize The Indonesian Freedom Commitments.