Changing the Mindset of the Education Managers
The Impact of DBE3 according to Drs. Rustam Manalu, Head of Education, Kota Sibolga

I SEE that in general the DBE3 program has succeeded in changing the mindset of education managers in Sibolga. The change can be seen from the level of Head of Education Office to the levels of school principals and teachers. The change is in line with the policies pf school-based management (SBM) and the implementation of the school level curriculum (KTSP). The district government gives guidance but teaching and learning take place at the school level.

Now teachers are not the only source of knowledge. Teachers are expected to act as facilitators. Education is not centred on the teachers but on the students. This transformation requires a change in mindset, especially in the integration of life skills into teaching and learning processes. This is in line with Law 20, 2003 concerning the national education system and Ministerial Decree Number 19, 2005.

Everyone from the day of their birth posseses life skills which demand creativity as a condition of survival. We can see that people who live in villages are often more creative because of the geographical challenges they face. Education managers and organizers must be ready to face these changes. The school curriculum is implemented at school level, so it is the school’s responsibility to develop it. Schools should develop appropriate learning methods and provide equipment and tools for learning activities.

Teachers are encouraged to develop their own simple and not so simple learning media. As a result, our teachers have more self confidence. DBE3 has been successful in this area. Schools in Sibolga have changed a lot. The significant change has been in the mindset of education managers: school principals and teachers. We will carry on with what we have achieved and disseminate the good practices to others. We see that we must do it because we have experienced the positive impact of the changes.

We are glad that key stakeholders in Sibolga (Parliament, District Development Agency, and schools) have a strong commitment to sustain and develop the DBE3 program. Sibolga is not a big city. There is no other avenue in education other than improving the quality. We need to make improving the quality of teaching and learning at schools the priority. We will carry on with the DBE3 program and we will encourage schools to develop the models they are implementing now. We will undertake monitoring and evaluation to ensure this.

Commenting with Pictures The topic of expressing thoughts, feelings and information in the form of a commentary or report do not have to be in the form of sentences only. At SMPN 3 Sibolga, Kota Sibolga, North Sumatera, one student made a cartoon to express his thoughts on certain issue. Septiyan Pratama showing his work. SEPTIYAN PRATAMA, a 9th grade student proudly showed his cartoon. There is a line of cars and some text on it and the picture is interesting. Through this cartoon he tried to convey his opinions. " I want everyone has to have equal opportunities, " said Pratama. Pratama got the idea from the newspaper. He was asked by Ibu Riamin Tambunan, his Bahasa Indonesia teacher, to look for reports in the newspaper. Pratama identified the important points in one of the reports. After that, Pratt and his group were asked to plan the writing of a report. The report had to follow the main points they had identified in the reports they had found. During the process, students set out the most interesting points of the report. After Pratama had identified these points, they then made an assessment form. The form was developed in a participatory manner. The criteria of an interesting report were based on their findings. Then Ibu Tambunan asked Pratama to work individually. He was asked to give his comments on the existing reports. His comments were made in the form of a cartoon drawing. According to Ms. Tambunan, if a child is asked to write in sentences, it can be difficult. " So I asked them to draw. "