In Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, Mrs. Astuti, a 39-year-old teacher, teaches mathematics with enthusiasm despite being faced with limited facilities. To help students understand fractional numbers, she created simple props using bamboo, cardboard, and cork—materials that are easy to find in the neighbourhood. “I want the children here to be able to learn in a way that they understand, even with makeshift tools,” said Mrs. Astuti.
The challenges in Indonesian education, particularly in literacy and numeracy, are reflected in the results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey, which shows that Indonesian students are still lagging in reading and mathematics. In addition, INOVASI found that nearly half (45%) of Grade 3 students did not meet expected reading levels, while an alarming two‑thirds (68%) underperformed in mathematics in 2022.
underperformed in mathematics. This is even more pronounced in remote areas where access to quality education and support for teacher development is limited. INOVASI, a partnership program between 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 Mrs. Astuti to develop creative teaching methods and support the achievement of basic literacy and numeracy.
On National Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the dedication of teachers who continue to find innovative solutions to support children’s learning. Together with national and subnational partners, including school communities, teacher training institutes and community‑based organisations, all children, without exception, can master foundational skills and reach their full potential.