The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Provincial Government has made ongoing efforts encouraging synergy among literacy activists. After the NTB Reading Consortium emerged from the successful INOVASI program several months ago, Literacy Volunteers, commonly known as Relawan Literasi (RELASI) received further support in the form of capacity-building training for established literacy volunteers. At least 400 literacy activists and Educational Institution of Educational Personnel (LPTKs) received literacy training. In addition to bringing new knowledge and skills to their home institutions, these literacy volunteers are expected to support provincial and district level efforts to improve literacy, particularly for children in the early grades of elementary school (SD) and Islamic elementary school (MI).
The West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Education Office officially launched the Literacy Volunteers or Relawan Literasi (RELASI) program to coincide with the commemoration of the Republic of Indonesia’s 75th Independence Day. On August 17, 2020, in collaboration with INOVASI , online training for literacy volunteers began. The participating literacy volunteers represented no less than 14 non-governmental organizations and LPTK students in the NTB Province. Upon completing their trainings, the goal of these volunteers has been to support local government efforts to increase student literacy, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The Literacy Volunteers online training was held for ten weeks. The participants were provided with various materials for improving basic literacy. Not only materials related to literacy, they were also equipped with information regarding COVID-19 health recommendations for children, mindset development, inclusive education, and volunteering. Moreover, the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Education Office also collaborated with The Asia Foundation to enrich the skills and knowledge of the Literacy Volunteers.
Taking into consideration the current pandemic conditions, this training was held online. However, in the future there will also be direct guidance which will be carried out by paying attention to existing health protocols. During the training, these literacy volunteers were accompanied by facilitators, such as teachers, educators, and educational personnel who previously were facilitators who had been trained by INOVASI in implementing a program to improve students’ basic literacy skills in Phase 1 of the INOVASI Program (2016-2019).
Head of West Nusa Tenggara Education Agency, Dr. H. Aidy Furqan was also present to officially open this online training activities. He warmly welcomed the literacy volunteers to the online training program. Referencing the current pandemic conditions, he observed that the education office had identified specific challenges, particularly those related to learning from home.
“For example, parents who do not have the skills to accompany their children to study at home. There are also children who have difficulty understanding the lessons that are delivered virtually, both online and semi-online, “he explained.
Aidy Furqan also expressed hope that the volunteers undergoing training would be able to tackle some of the challenges inherent during Study from Home or Belajar dari Rumah (BDR) necessitated by the pandemic. In particular, he recommended a system of gathering feedback from parents and students regarding BDR activities so that the education could more quickly evaluate and respond to needs in the field.
Head of the Curriculum Section for Madrasah Education at the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) of NTB Province, Drs. H. Jalaludin, also spoke at the opening. On this occasion he also explained the challenges found in schools under the supervision of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, especially during the implementation of this BDR policy. According to Jalaludin, many schools still face difficulties in carrying out distance learning activities. He voiced his hope that the literacy training for the volunteers would serve these unreached children.
The Provincial Manager of NTB for the INOVASI program, Sri Widuri, presented the online training program as a demonstration of INOVASI’s support for the partner institutions and LPTKs which committed to improving literacy conditions in NTB. According to Sri Widuri, around 400 volunteers received equipment over a ten-week period.
“We at INOVASI feel moved to support these partner institutions. The potential of these institutions is presented to support children, parents, and teachers, as well as the Education Office to support BDR which is currently running. In some aspects still facing challenges, “said Sri Widuri.
This Literacy Volunteers (RELASI) training program is also part of an effort to mobilize institutions that have significantly contributed to NTB communities. Increasing the number of positive initiatives and collaborations among these organizations would make the goal of improving literacy into an integrated, collaborated movement.
The mission of working together to expand literacy in NTB Province was also highlighted by the Head of the NTB Reading Consortium, Dr. L. Sirajul, M.Pd., when he stated, “I hope that this activity will become the embryos of new awareness for existing literacy activists given that the existing problems of numeracy and literacy will need more optimal work. I believe this will be realized if there is cooperation and synergy among literacy activists.”
[Photo caption] Head of the NTB Provincial Education Office, Dr. H. Aidy Furqan, hopes that Literacy Volunteers (RELASI) can contribute to literacy education in NTB, particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic.