Joint Monitoring Visit in Klungkung Regency for the Implementation of the Guided Reading Program at SDN 2 Selat
The government continues to support efforts to improve basic literacy skills in schools to realize a better generation of learners in the future. On Tuesday, 30 May 2023, local government officials in Klungkung District, Bali conducted a joint monitoring activity of the implementation of the Balanced Reading Program at SDN 2 Selat, located in Selat Village, Klungkung District. The Balanced Reading Program is an effort to improve the competence of educators and education personnel in teaching reading for early grades (1, 2, and 3). This program was initiated by Kemendikbudristek and Yayasan Literasi Anak Indonesia (YLAI) with the support of the Innovation for Indonesian Children (INOVASI) program through the Driver Organization Program. In addition to seeing the progress of the program, this joint monitoring activity also wants to see things that can be followed up together in an effort to improve the basic literacy skills of early grade students in Klungkung District.
The Balanced Reading Program implemented in Klungkung Regency has been running for two school years, from 2021 to 2023. A total of 30 public primary schools in 4 sub-districts (Banjarangkan, Klungkung, Dawan, and Nusa Penida) have become partners of this program. The main targets of this program are principals and early grade teachers. In this program, teachers have been trained through various trainings so that they are able to teach reading effectively and can become competent readers. The principals also received training to prepare them to understand the learning process so that they can develop and encourage the teaching skills of the teachers in their schools.
As one of the assisted partners, teachers and principals at SDN 2 Selat have implemented this program. In this school, all aspects of the briefing provided have been implemented by teachers and principals so that the benefits can be felt by students. According to the experience of early grade teachers at this school, they see that their students’ literacy skills have improved after the implementation of the Balanced Reading Program at their school. In addition, students’ interest in reading has also begun to build due to the availability of illustrated reading books in the corners of their classrooms.
During the joint monitoring at SDN 2 Selat, the team consisted of representatives from the Education, Youth and Sports Office (Disdikpora), BAPPEDA, the Archives and Library Office, and the Communication Office (Diskominfo). YLAI representatives and the INOVASI program team also attended the monitoring. All of these teams were able to directly observe learning activities in the early grades, as well as have brief discussions with teachers and principals who have been receiving capacity building and assistance from the YLAI team.
The Klungkung District Government itself does pay attention to the issue of literacy. The Regent of Klungkung, Mr. I Nyoman Suwirta, S.Pd., M.M., on different occasions has expressed support for efforts to build a culture of literacy in his region in order to create a superior and prosperous society. The Balanced Reading Program developed by YLAI is a strategic effort in laying a solid foundation of literacy skills for children in Klungkung District in realizing that literacy culture.
Klungkung District Education Office appreciates the achievements of the Balanced Reading Program. The Head of the Basic Education Division, Mr. I Ketut Suastana, hopes that the various good practices perceived through the implementation of the Balanced Reading Program will be encouraged to be able to provide wider benefits to other schools in Klungkung District. This will be done by activating the Teacher Working Group (KKG). Later, teachers, principals and supervisors who have received assistance and capacity building from the Balanced Reading Program will be the spearhead in disseminating this through trainings in the KKG.
