Improving Teachers and School Leadership in Indonesia: Impact Evaluation of Guru Penggerak Program at the Primary Level
Executive Summary
This comprehensive study evaluates the impact of the Pendidikan Guru Penggerak (Guru Penggerak Program) aimed at enhancing primary level education in Indonesia. The evaluation encompasses various aspects including teacher improvement, school leadership, and overall educational quality.
Key Points:
-
Context: Indonesia's education system underwent significant reforms, with the Guru Penggerak Program introduced as part of the Merdeka Belajar initiative to improve teacher effectiveness and school leadership.
-
Reform and Program: The new wave of reforms focused on emancipating learning. The Guru Penggerak Program specifically targets teacher development through a series of training activities designed to foster self-reflection, self-improvement, and student-centered teaching practices.
-
Methodology: The evaluation employs an empirical approach using Regression Discontinuity Design to assess the impact of the program on teachers and schools. It includes both an implementation assessment through phone surveys and impact evaluation through school visits.
-
Results: The study reveals improvements in the quality of implementation across various program components. Teachers showed enhanced self-reflection skills, adopted more student-centered teaching approaches, and demonstrated increased leadership abilities through community building and coaching.
-
Conclusions and Recommendations: The evaluation highlights the effectiveness of the Guru Penggerak Program in improving teaching quality and leadership skills among primary school educators. Recommendations include refining workshop formats, improving logistics, and enhancing the enjoyment of teaching.
Key Findings:
-
Implementation Quality: District-level variations in the quality of implementation were observed, suggesting the need for tailored support strategies.
-
Teacher Development: Teachers reported improved self-development skills and a shift towards student-centered teaching methods.
-
Leadership Improvement: School principals perceived enhanced leadership abilities among teachers, emphasizing the importance of fostering communities of learning and coaching.
Recommendations:
-
Program Refinement: To improve workshop effectiveness and logistics, enhancing the overall experience for participants.
-
Long-term Career Planning: Encouraging teachers to set five-year career plans to guide professional growth and development.
-
Enjoyment of Teaching: Increasing enjoyment in teaching to sustain motivation and improve educational outcomes.
This evaluation underscores the importance of targeted professional development programs in enhancing educational quality, particularly in the context of primary education in Indonesia.
