President Jokowi Lauds Pioneer Teacher Program

President Jokowi gives a bicycle to a pioneer teacher at the peak of the 2018 National Teachers’ Day celebration, at the Indonesia Area, Jakarta, Saturday (11/25). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Vico)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo expressed his appreciation to guru penggerak (pioneer teachers) during his opening remarks at the peak event of the 2018 National Teachers’ Day celebration at the Indonesia Area, Jakarta, Saturday (11/25).

According to the President, Indonesia has 50,000 pioneer teachers, nine thousands of whom have become school principals.

The Head of State expressed hopes that the number will continue to increase in the future.

“The Minister said earlier that the number will increase to 100,000 next year, correct? Thus, we will have school principals with innovation and transformation skills,” he added.

On that occasion, the President also had a conversation with Kuswanto, one of guru penggerak who hail from Sigi regency in Central Sulawesi province.

Kuswanto said that guru penggerak are different from other teachers as guru penggerak are trained to be leaders in student centered learning. He also shared his experience of teaching in 3T (frontier, outermost, underdeveloped) regions where he must face difficulties with weak signal network.

As a token of appreciation for Kuswanto’s 30-year dedication as a teacher, President Jokowi recommended him to be promoted to a principal and gave him a bicycle as a present. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/AIT) (RAS/MMB)