Nadiem: The Independent Community Learns To Play A Role In Educational Transformation

Mendikbudristek Nadiem Anwar Makarim while attending a Community Meeting held by our Community Educators/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Mendikbudristek), Nadiem Anwar Makarim said the Merdeka Learning community played a major role in the transformation of education.

"Obviously, the existence of our Teaching Community for teachers, Sidina Community for parents, and Independent Student Youth for students has played a very big role in the transformation of our education system," said Nadiem in a written statement in Jakarta, Wednesday, May 25. Community Meeting held by the Our Teaching Community, Sidina Community, and the Independent Student Youth Community, with the theme "Move Together, Empower Together".

Nadiem said the support provided by representatives of the teacher, student, and parent forum for Merdeka Learning would accelerate the transformation of the quality of national education towards a better and more sustainable future. The active role of the community, according to him, has made the Merdeka Learn program possible.

“Without mom and dad, and all my friends, I'm not sure we would have reached this point. Made it through the pandemic and led the recovery together," he said.

Nadiem admits that the government through the Ministry of Education and Technology cannot work alone. Without the support of the community, Merdeka Learning will not be a policy and movement that truly has an impact.

"I have always said that the independent learning movement must become a movement, not just a policy or it will not be ingrained, entrenched in educational institutions and in society," he said.

On that occasion, Nadiem also received recommendations from the Our Teaching Community, Sidina Community, and the Independent Student Youth Community for the Merdeka Learning program. The first recommendation was delivered by the Regional Coordinator of Bali Nusa Tenggara Our Community of Teachers, Luh Eka Yanthi.

Luh Eka said that Merdeka Learning was the key to success in the recovery of education, especially after the pandemic. Our Community of Teachers hopes that Kemendikbudristek will always involve the teacher and school communities in the successful implementation of the Merdeka Learning program in all educational units in Indonesia. Furthermore, the synergy between the Activator Teachers and the Motivating Schools, the teacher community is needed so that the Merdeka Learning program can become a major movement for quality change. In response to this, Minister Nadiem appreciates the recommendation from the Kami Pengajar community to encourage synergy between the teacher community, schools and the government in implementing the Merdeka Learning program. In the future, said Nadiem, Kemendikbudristek will continue to develop collaborations with teacher and education communities throughout Indonesia, so that all school members can feel the impact of independent learning.

The next recommendation was submitted by the National Coordinator of the Independent Student Youth Community, Rizal Maula. He hopes that Kemendikbudristek can provide support for the Student Movers program so that it can have a wider impact. In addition, the alumni of Merdeka Learn Campus Merdeka (MBKM) can be invited to work together in the success of Merdeka Learning at the tertiary level.

For this recommendation, Minister Nadiem also expressed his gratitude to the Independent Student Youth for the involvement of students and alumni of the independent campus program in the implementation of Merdeka Learning. According to him, the input from the Independent Student Youth is important, considering that currently there are thousands of students throughout Indonesia who are alumni of the MBKM program.

“So their involvement in the Merdeka Learning campaign will certainly have a wider impact. I often chat with MBKM alumni, indeed the torch of change is in their hands to spread this movement to fellow students and to their lecturers," he said.

Nadiem also encouraged the Independent Student Youth to invite students who have not participated in the MBKM program to register immediately and communicate with lecturers and heads of study programs. Because, Kemendikbudristek encourages campuses to develop MBKM programs independently apart from Kemendikbudristek.

"So, I always say to the rectors, lecturers and students, don't lose to the ministry in making its own program. I believe that if given energy and resources, programs from universities can be better than ministry programs. I'm sure of that, you just need confidence and commitment," said Nadiem.

The next recommendation was submitted by the Founder of Sidina Community, Susi Sukaesih. Susi said Sidina Community as a community encourages parents to be actively involved in the socialization and implementation of Merdeka Learning with support from the Ministry of Education and Culture, so that Merdeka Learning can become a movement for all parents. education promotion.

Nadiem also expressed his appreciation to the mothers who are part of the Sidina Community and are the movers of independent learning among parents. Minister Nadiem said that through the Free Learning movement, his party prioritized the involvement of parents in the children's learning process, especially those related to character education. , critical reasoning, and creative. "This will not be possible without close collaboration between teachers and people," said Nadiem. For this reason, Nadiem continued, the Ministry of Education and Culture received a recommendation from the Sidina Community so that the Ministry of Education and Technology provides greater space for parents to be involved in the independent learning movement. “Once again, thank you for the collaboration that has been established with us at the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as for the recommendations that have been submitted to us. Let's keep going and make this movement ours and move together to bring Indonesia to jump into the future with freedom of learning," said Nadiem.