In Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, Ibu Astuti, a 39-year-old teacher, teaches mathematics with passion despite limited facilities. To help students understand fractions, she created simple props using bamboo tampahs, cardboard paper and corks – materials easily found in the neighborhood. “I want the children here to be able to learn in a way that they understand, even with makeshift tools,” said Ms. Astuti.
The challenges in Indonesian education, especially in literacy and numeracy, are reflected in the results of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey, which shows that Indonesian students still lag behind in reading and mathematics. This is more pronounced in remote areas where access to quality education and support for teacher development is difficult. For this reason, INOVASI, a partnership program between the Australian and Indonesian governments, is working with the education ecosystem in West Nusa Tenggara, including Sumbawa, to improve learning practices and policies. The program helps teachers like Ibu Astuti develop creative teaching methods that support basic literacy and numeracy achievement.
Celebrating National Teachers’ Day, it is important for us to appreciate the dedication of teachers who continue to innovate within limitations. Support from governments, communities and individuals is a valuable boost for those fighting for the future of Indonesia’s children.