Enthusiastic and energetic atmosphere colored the teacher quality improvement training in Jambi. The training was facilitated by Tanoto Foundation. The teachers were divided in groups and received training material on effective classroom management. They enjoyed the training as the materials were delivered in fun and interactive ways such as activities that were similar to snakes and ladders game.

Using approaches that were similar to games encouraged participants to actively voice their opinions and work together as teams. Each team carried out problem solving activities and shared experience about what they did to improve the learning process in their schools. Each team member got a turn, following the steps on the tracks of snakes and ladders game.

This training was part of the effort to improve the quality of education in Tanoto Foundation’s partner schools in Jambi. The participants of the training were grouped together based on their clusters of locations. Cluster 1 training participants included teachers from schools from Kebun Muara Bulian and Kebun Taman Raja. Meanwhile, Cluster 2 participants were from Kebun Tungkal Ulu and Kebun Bungo Tebo, Jambi. They then would disseminate the newly learned knowledge in their schools.

According Fitria, Training Specialist of Tanoto Foundation, this training is very important to determine future programs. “This training plays a strategic role for the schools’ teacher quality improvement programs. After being implemented for five years, we try to evaluate the impact of our work on the effort to increase quality of education in Tanoto Foundation’s school partners,” said Fitria.

Through training such as this, teachers are encouraged to be more skillful and knowledgeable to produce work that is creative and interesting to support the teaching and learning process.

Teachers improvement program by Tanoto Foundation is designed to support teachers to increase their capacity so they can carry out teaching and learning process that is active, creative, innovative and fun. Tanoto Foundation support the schools through training, mentoring, replication of good practices and sharing of knowledge and experience with others.

Written by Asih Iffah, Tanoto Scholar from Universitas Hasanuddin Makassar

A simple habit, if carried out with conviction over a period of time, is likely to create an impact. If one person has the habit of reading regularly, for example, overtime such habit will likely become a part of his or her personal culture. Subsequently, this habit will likely impact his or her academic performance and other aspects of his or her life positively.

As part of the activities of Tanoto Scholars Association of Universitas Hasanuddin Makassar, we have been trying to instill a habit of reading in our younger brothers and sisters from Lakkang Village, Makassar. By reading books to them, we let them learn more about the values of friendship, honesty, and heroism. We also ask the children to express themselves using the pictures in the book. We feel that these of activities will encourage the children to love books more and create the habit of reading in the long run.

These activities have been inspired by the founder of Tanoto Foundation, Bapak Sukanto Tanoto. He is known for his love of reading and use of books and other sources for his continuous learning. Although Bapak Sukanto Tanoto was not able to continue his formal education, his learning continues. We would like to spread such love of learning and reading to our brothers and sisters at Lakkang Village as well as others.

Although the habit and love of reading might not seem glamorous for many people, we strongly believe that the love of reading will open the window of knowledge of the young generation and increase their chance to have a better life in the future.

Finally, as recipients of Tanoto Foundation Scholarships, or Tanoto Scholars, in addition to the financial support, we are also given the opportunities to improve our skills in different fields. We have been trained to improve our presentation skills or ability to manage a small library efficiently. We find these training sessions very useful for us as we will be part of the work force soon.

Written by Jazuli, Tanoto Foundation Jambi

SD Negeri 160/V Bukit Harapan is one of the schools near PT Inti Indosawit Subur Tungkal Ulu plantation area that has received programs from Tanoto Foundation. As part of the program to support students to have clean and healthy behavior, Tanoto Foundation built  an artesian well in 2012 which is still in function now.

Because of this well, the school could build a handwashing facility in front of the classrooms so students could develop the habit of washing their hands before and after taking part in activities. Concurrently, SD Negeri 160/V Bukit Harapan also held Hand Wash with Soap campaign as well as giving a Hygiene KIT to the students so they could maintain this healthy habit in the long run.

In addition to providing artesian well facility, Hygiene KIT and other help, Tanoto Foundation has also trained the teachers so they could support the students’ clean and healthy habits as well as environment-friendly behavior. Tanoto Foundation has been working with Education Office, Public Health Office, and Environmental Office of Tanjung Jabung Barat District since 2012 to carry out the above mentioned activities.

“We as SD Negeri 160/V Bukit Harapan community are very grateful to Tanoto Foundation for this Clean and Healthy Habit program. In addition, Tanoto Foundation also has trained the school principal and teachers on this topic.  It would be foolish for us to waste the support and knowledge that was provided to us by Tanoto Foundation,” said Nurul Hidayati, Principal of SD Negeri 160/V Bukit Harapan.

The Healthy and Environmental Friendly School program that held by Tanoto Foundation in cooperation with Asian Agri was targeted to schools near the plantation of PT Inti Indosawit Subur in Tungkal Ulu, Tanjung Jabung Barat, Jambi area. The objective of the program is to realize a clean, healthy and environmental friendly school near Asian Agri plantation areas. Activities include building and renovating toilets, developing wellspring and clean water facilities, and effectively managing trash around the schools’ areas.