Tanoto Foundation Supports the Improvement of Indonesia’s Educational Quality through the Right Application of Assessment System

Thursday, 20 August 2015 – For some people, assessment for students’ studies is indicated solely on the National Examination (UN), which determines their completion of studies. For some others, assessment is emphasized on their report cards, which indicate the students’ regular and continuous result of studies. Which one of these two is more valid?

According to education expert, Prof. Dr. S. Eko Putro Widoyoko, M.Pd, assessment or grading generally refers to an activity of interpreting data, whose measurement is based on criteria and certain rule. Hence, in order to conduct assessment for students, there has to be a tool or instrument and technique to collect information and determinants regarding the result of students’ studies. The assessment result, eventually, will be a feedback to improve the quality of next studies system.

To provide perspectives and share experiences in the implementation of education grading system, Tanoto Foundation, in partnership with Research and Development of the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia and Widya Mandala University of Surabaya, organized a public seminar entitled, “Assessment in the Reformed Evaluation of Education”. The seminar was held at the building of Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia in Jakarta, 20 August 2015.

The main speaker of the seminar is Professor Mark Wilson, Ph.D, a researcher from The Berkeley Evaluation and Assessment Research (BEAR) Center, University of California Berkeley. Mark Wilson has done abundant of research  on issues regarding education assessment in different places. HE shared the best practices to assessment system that has successfully been implemented in other countries, and the lessons learned from those processes.

“There are four principles that have to be fulfilled in education assessment system. First, is that the assessment has to be based on the perspective of the student’s learning. Secondly, what was being taught and what was being graded have to be in line with each other. Third, the teacher has to act as the manager and the user of the assessment data. Finally, the assessment has to comply with validity and reliability standards that exist,” Mark Wilson explained.

The Head of Research and Development of Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Totok Suprayitno, Ph.D, explained about the government’s policies in implementary the education assessment system in Indonesia.

“We as the policy-makers for the national education is considering many of available inputs to determine the right assessment model that can best be implemented subsequently. We happily welcome and support seminars such as this one to improve the educational system of the country, particularly the assessment system,” Totok Suprayitno stated.

Yulia Sri Prihartini, M.Hum, Supervisor for Secondary School Education Department of Sleman, Yogyakarta, also attended as one of the speakers. She expressed the opinions and aspirations of Secondary School teachers regarding class assessment and the execution of the National Examination (UN) as some of the assessment format in her area. Tri Harjanti, a teacher from 201/VII Public Elementary School in Pinang Belai, Jambi, which is a school partner of Tanoto Foundation, also shared her experiences and obstacles in regularly applying assessment system.

In the same occasion, Chairman of Tanoto Foundation, Sihol Aritonang explained, “Tanoto Foundation supports the improvement of educational quality in Indonesia. In line with the obligation from Tanoto Foundation founders, Mr. Sukanto Tanoto and Mrs. Tinah Bingei Tanoto, we have guided 320 schools through a series of continuous teachers training. Surely the assessment system for students are highly relevant to measure the effectiveness of education programs.”

For further information, please contact the following:

Lestari Boediono, Head of Corporate Communications

Phone: +62 21 392 3189, Fax: +62 21 392 3324

Email: lestari_boediono@www.tanotofoundation.org

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About Tanoto Foundation

Tanoto Foundation, which was established by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto, has a vision to become a center of excellence in the effort for Poverty Alleviation through Education, Empowerment, and Enhancement of Quality of Lives. In the realm of education, Tanoto Foundation supports the improvement of accessibility and quality of education in Indonesia.

In order to improve the accessibility of education, Tanoto Foundation has rewarded scholarships to more than 5,400 students and university students, as well as working in partnership with 28 Universities in Indonesia. Moreover, to improve the quality of education, Tanoto Foundation works in partnership with over 320 schools in North Sumatera, Riau, and Jambi. Among the programs operated are to develop the capacities of teachers in classroom-based teaching and learning, training for students to improve their habit to live clean and healthy, as well as supporting students to improve their fascination in reading books.

In the realm of Community Empowerment, Tanoto Foundation works with corporate partners, PT. Riau Andalan Pul and Paper. One of their programs is to train 3,400 farmers in the Integrated Farming System. Tanoto Foundation also works with other corporate partners, including Asian Agri. The programs were developed to raise the income of more than 3,600 independent farmers who manage in approximate 11,000 hectares of sustainable palm oil plantations.

In the realm of Enhancement of Quality of Lives, Tanoto Foundation works with corporate partners to run programs such as health and development of clean water and sanitation facilities.

For further information, please visit: staging2-tanotofoundation-org.averis.emerain.net