South Sulawesi

Finding the Right Model of Supervision*

WORKSHOPS conducted by DBE3 are not the end of the process of capacity building for teachers. The next step is the mentoring program for teachers, which focuses on helping them develop and apply their skills and share their experiences. In this activity, facilitators have the opportunity to share their experience and skills with teachers. Before mentoring teachers, a facilitator is given proper training. In this training they learn how to be an effective facilitator and motivator. They are also taught how to listen and give feedback tactfully. They develop their interpersonal and other skills.

As a supervisor from Diknas Sidrap, South Sulawesi, who is also a facilitator, I can see that a supervisor needs to posses certain qualities such as excellent motivating skills, interpersonal and other skills. A supervisor should always learn and keep in touch with new developments in the education world. A supervisor should be able to assist teachers in developing their syllabi and lesson plans and choosing the right methods and learning strategies in the classroom (MoNE Regulation # 12, 2007).

My experience in working on the DBE3 program helps me find the right model of supervision. Often, a supervisor it too authoritarian with teachers or principals. This is not how it should be. A supervisor should be a facilitator and a partner for teachers in developing contextual learning. He or she must share experiences with teachers on how to conduct student-centered learning. With this kind of approach, a supervisor and teachers can encourage students to think critically, work together in a team, reflect on the learning processes and use available learning aids.

I would like to emphasize that the role of supervisor should be as an assistant or a mentor, so that he or she can effectively help teachers or principals in implementing meaningful learning. This will result in the improvement of the quality of education.

* Written by Drs. Abdul Latif, M.Si,
a Supervisor from Diknas Sidrap, South Sulawesi

My Teacher, My Friend

BECOMING a champion seems to be his choice. Though still young, Rama Arisandi Udhin has made some considerable achievements in Science and Mathematics. He has competed in district, provincial and national competitions in Science and Mathematics. This 3rd grade student of SMPN 2 Pangkajene has won a number of prizes: first place in Mathematics for SMP students in South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi (2008) and first place in the provincial Olympics for Science and Mathematics in South Sulawesi (2009).

He is now planning to become the first winner of the National Olympics of Science and Mathematics, and be a winner in Mathematics and Science competitions held by universities in South Sulawesi. The oldest son of Udhin and Rosmini was born on March 1, 1995. He never thought that he would love Mathematics. When he was in primary school, he did not like Mathematics at all. Besides being boring, it also confused him. But this changed when he was in junior secondary school. Now Mathematics is his favorite subject. Everyday, after school, he spends two hours studying Mathematics.

Besides that, he has joined and is active in the Mathematics Lovers Students Group, an organization which was founded seven years ago by his Mathematics teacher, Mansyur Eppe. What makes him enjoy Mathematics is related to the learning atmosphere at his school. His Mathematics teacher always creates a favorable and enjoyable condition for learning. He asks his students to work in groups or sometimes takes them outside of classroom to experience a different learning environment. A lot of activities take place outside the classroom. “I really like learning the environment at our school.

Our Mathematics teacher teaches us really well. We can ask him anytime and anywhere. I feel that he is my friend.” Quoting Imam Syafi’i, a famous scholar of Islam, teaching and learning is successful when there is a mutual trust and respect between the teacher and the students. The teacher imparts his or her knowledge sincerely and students learn from the teacher faithfully. What happens at SMPN 2 Pangkajene is a good example of mutual trust, respect and sincerity which is built by the teacher and students working together.