BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – National Teacher Day commemorated every 25 November becomes the moment to remember for educators. This moment reminds us to review the figure of teachers who have taken great dedication in providing education for the nation.
Vice Dean I of Faculty of Teaching and Education (FKIP) Universitas Pasundan, Darta, S.Pd., M.Pd confirmed that the figure of teacher can be seen from two points of view. According to him, in term of ability, the quality of teachers in Indonesia is still far from ideal. This can be seen from the result of Teacher’s Competency Test showing us that not less than 30% of them who have 80 as the minimum grade.
“It still needs sacrifice to improve teacher’s quality who are future-oriented. A future-teacher should at least master the teaching material, pedagogical ability and teaching technology or TPACK (Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge). Viewed from these three, it has still not found and met the requirements, compared to those in foreign country,” he said.
By mastering TPACK, teacher would be able to facilitate, guide and lead the students to be able to improve optimally according to their skill and interest; especially, when it comes to students whose intention and learning method are rather different.
On the other side, when world has now been struggling with Covid-19 pandemic, the role or teacher is actually not able to be fully switched to technology; no matter how sophisticated it is.
He also said that teaching is not only about transferring the knowledge. In line to that, teachers also transfer and build the civilization, character, values and noble behaviour that are the goals of pure educational process.
“No matter what, teachers mean everything. Without the teachers, there are things which lacks of process; namely, the unbuilt character. The National Teacher Day brings back the meaning of teacher truly,” he continued.
Until now, teachers are still closely attached to the philosophy ‘digugu lan ditiru’ (trusted and imitated) and the unsung heroes. He agrees with these legendary terms. Teachers who are able to be trusted and imitated should become a role model, provide the best example and good behaviour to the students and in their daily life.
“As for the unsung heroes, this could be right. However, there are also three practices that will continue to flow even after we die, namely teaching useful knowledge. If you remember these three things, the teacher’s dedication has already been immortal (even without being given by the unsung heroes), especially if you teach with sincerity,” he continued.
Mentioned about the theme brought in National Teacher Day this year, he conveyed that the theme ‘Bergerak dengan Hati, Pulihkan Pendidikan’ is really relevant to the teacher’s obligations. Teachers should be able to teach wholeheartedly, to make the good character stick to the students’ heart.
“If the students are already touched, they will move and follow what have been inspired by the teacher on their own,” he said.
In the future, there are at least three duties to be watched for by each stakeholder. First, government should keep improving the teacher’s prosperity and respect their profession, especially honorary teachers who are still far from sufficient, especially when it comes to monthly wages. The government has a big task in providing guarantees and protection for these professions to be respected.
Second, educational institution, including Unpas FKIP, should improve the quality of prospective teacher to be able to adapt and be inspiring; to make student survive in the future.
“Third, it is indeed the teachers themselves. Keep improving skill, both as educator, tutor, as well as heirs of good values, who can develop civilization in a better direction, because they will be faced with push-and-pull phenomenon of both good and bad character in the society. Which is the more dominant; between teacher’s education and real/virtual environment,” he concluded. (Reta)*
