Success in Improving the Quality of Education in the 6 DBE Partner Provinces:

Commitment and Institutionalization Keys to Success

THE DBE 3 NATIONAL Review and Planning Meeting in Surabaya (26-27/1) presented the successes achieved by DBE3's partners in the regions in improving the quality of education. The representatives of the districts and provinces who included the District Development Agencies, Local Parliaments, Education and Religious Affairs Offices and even representatives of schools took turns to explain the key to their success. Below you can read success stories from North Sumatra, on page 3 'lessons learned' from the six partner provinces, and on page 4 stories of success in schools. since they have been supported by DBE3.

Building Commitment, Instutionalization and Consistent Quality for All

North Sumatera Education and Religious Affairs Offices Realize Their Commitment

SINCE the National Planning in Medan in August 2010, the stakeholders involved have implemented a number of commitments. The North Sumatera Religious Affairs Office has issued a letter urging all district religious affairs offices to replicate the DBE3 training modules. The North Sumatra Provincial Education Office is also seeking funding of Rp. 500 million to support the development of the DBE3 program.

At the district level implementation has increased. Replication has taken place with three forms of financing:
1) district budget funds provided by the Education Office;
2) Funding provided by district religious affairs offices, and
3) operational funding (BOS and SSN) provided by schools.

During the period August-December 2010 DBE3 partner stakeholders in the districts have spent funding amounting to Rp. 429 million for replication. With that funding 1163 teachers from 161 schools have been trained. Of the total funds used, 44% was from education offices through the district budget and 56% from schools' BOS or SSN funding.

Sibolga Education Office: Quality for All

In 2010 Sibolga has utilized funds amounting to Rp115 million to replicate the BTL 2 and BTL3 module training. Of the total funds, 70% came from the district budget managed by the education office and 30% from schools through the BOS funds. The Education Office realized their commitments because the could see the clear benefits of the DBE3 program. The program has succeeded in changing the mindset DBE3 of educational managers and strengthen the implementation of the National Education Standards. In 2011, to improve the spread of quality, Sibolga Education Department has allocated Rp 185 million for replication of DBE3 modules.

Binjai Parliament: Starting Institutionalization

Institutionalization is one of the innovations initiated by the Binjai local parliament. Institutionalization aims to disseminate and sustain the positive practices of DBE3. The first step towards institutionalization was a hearing with all parties involved in the DBE3 program, such as school principals, DBE3 partner schools, district facilitators (DF), the Education Office, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Local Development Agency (Bappeda). From the parliamentary hearing members got more complete information about the DBE3 program.

Support also came from the Head of the Education Office, Drs. Anang Dwi Wibowo, who issued a decree which formalized the position of district facilitators in developing the quality of education in the city Binjai. Next the parliament arranged a meeting with the mayor of Binjai. The meeting was to explain the achievements DBE3 program, and request support from the mayor in the institutionalization process. After that they drafted implementation plans.

MORA Tanjung Balai City: Ensuring Equality
The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA) in Tanjung Balai have not just acted as a beneficiary of the DBE3 program but have been active in innovating to sustain the positive results already achieved. They have:

(1) facilitated MGMP activities in the city;
(2) added to the instructional media needed by their school (MTs);
(3) conducted regular monitoring to ensure implementation of the results of DBE3 training;
(4) given rewards to MTs who consistently apply the results of the training in everyday teaching and learning.

Replication has taken place for all MTs, so that all teachers have had the same opportunity to practice active learning.