The 2018 Kisar Education Festival Strengthens the Role of Teachers, Parents, and Children (Part 1)

The Kisar Education Festival was held again on Kisar Island in 2018, initiated by the Kisar Youth Movement (Gerakan Muda Kisar Cerdas), in collaboration with Heka Leka, Indonesia Mengajar, and various other institutions. The festival aims to promote improved education quality on Kisar Island through a series of activities involving educators, parents, and children.

One of the key events was a Workshop Class, which began on October 24, 2018. The inaugural class was led by Ms. Ifa Misbach and attended by kindergarten, elementary, junior high, and high school principals on Kisar Island. In this session, the principals shared their experiences and challenges in managing teachers and dealing with diverse student characteristics. The discussion focused on the importance of recognizing and managing teacher emotions to prevent violence and create a calm learning environment. The session also addressed the developmental needs of schoolchildren, with the hope that teachers would implement appropriate positive discipline.

Another inspiring activity was the “Let’s Teach Creatively” class, which brought together Agustina Putirulan and 54 kindergarten, early childhood education (PAUD), and SMTPI (Islamic Junior High School) teachers. This class encourages teachers to think outside the box and utilize the potential of the natural world as a learning tool. Using simple examples like transforming pens into various objects, teachers are encouraged to believe in their own creative potential. Workshop participants are then encouraged to find natural materials based on a theme and present them through storytelling and group chants, fostering the spirit of “Smart Maluku.”

The festival also featured an Arts Festival on Saturday, October 27, 2018, in the Wonreli Elementary School Hall. This event engaged parents and children in activities that fostered creativity and independence. Children sang, listened to stories from Mais Dohoklory, and created artwork from a mixture of dyes, water, and sunlight, producing stunning bubbles of color. They also learned to apply batik on white cloth by dipping the cloth in colored water. Through these activities, children were introduced to the concept of color, the creative process, the texture, and function of water, and learned to cultivate self-confidence, courage, and independence.

Through these various activities, the 2018 Kisar Education Festival has become a valuable platform for teachers, parents, and children to continue learning, improving themselves, and growing to their full potential, in order to realize “Smart Kisar” and “Smart Maluku.”