Intel Indonesia Corporation and the Indonesia Ministry of Education recently presented awards to 6 high achieving teachers as a part of their ongoing relationship to improve the quality of education in Indonesia. The teachers were recognized for their outstanding integration of 21st century skills, project based teaching methodologies, and the effective use of technology in the classroom.

The teachers acquired these skills through the Intel® Teach Program which has been active in Indonesia since 2007 and has trained more than 50,000 teachers across the country. The program is designed to provide professional development for teachers to enable them to deliver world class education opportunities to Indonesian students.

Technology is a critical component in improving Indonesia’s standard of education, according to the Minister of National Education, Mohammad Nuh. He said: “Teachers have a very important role in improving Indonesia’s education. We support Intel’s initiative and commitment in providing effective pedagogical training to teachers in the effective use of technology. Through these awards, we are able to highlight some of the extraordinary work done by teachers in integrating technology in the schools.”

The winning teachers were chosen based on how they implemented the Intel Teach program in the learning process. The teachers each received a laptop computer and a cash award in appreciation for their efforts.

Indonesia becomes the 45^th country which implemented the Intel® Teach Program. The country has 2.7 million teachers with 35 million students in grade K-12, and the program will improve their ability in integrating ICT into teaching and learning.

Intel Indonesia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of National Education (MONE) on May 16, 2007 to implement the Intel Teach Program in Indonesia.

Intel Indonesia has parallel program implementation in partnership with USAID Indonesia. On April 27, 2007, Intel formalized a MOU with USAID Indonesia to deploy the Intel Teach – Getting Started Course within its Decentralized Basic Education 2 (DBE2) program.

On September 24th, 2010, Intel was honored by the Indonesia Ministry of Education (MOE) for its commitment and substantial progress in improving and modernizing education in the country at the first MOE Education Appreciation Award Night.

Since May of 2007, Intel has been working with the Directorate for Quality Improvement of Teachers and Education Personnel (PMPTK) in the Ministry of National Education. Intel also had a cooperation with USAID, UNESCO, the Indonesia Teaching Movement, and the Ma’arif Nahdlatul Ulama to provide teacher professional development through the Intel® Teach Program. In only 3 years, the program has already reached over 50,000 teachers across the country, helping them to become more effective educators by providing instruction on how to develop project based teaching materials that promote problem solving, critical thinking and collaboration skills among their students, and how to effectively integrate technology into their lesson plans.

The theme for the event was, “Together we will build the country and the nation’s character through education.” In addition to Intel, 15 other companies were recognized at the event for their education efforts and involvement to improve education in Indonesia, including Coca Cola, L’Oreal, Telkom, Chevron, and PERTAMINA.

In addition to the Intel Teach Program, the company also promotes science and math education through science fairs. In May of 2010, five students from Indonesia, finalists of the National Youth Science Competition 2009, held by Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), competed for the first time at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest pre-college science competition, in San Jose, California.

Intel® Teach is a professional development program targeted at K-12 school teachers. It seeks to facilitate and increase their knowledge and ability in integrating the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning in the classroom. The Intel Teach Program is also in line with the Republic of Indonesia’s National Education vision and objectives on the promotion of teaching, training and application of ICT in education.

For the Intel Teach start-up deployment in Indonesia, it was decided to first deploy the Intel® Teach – Getting Started Course. This 4-day (32 hours) course was deemed appropriate to reach out and train teachers who still lack the basic knowledge and skills on ICT.

Since May 2007, a total of 141 Master Trainers (MTs) across different provinces in Indonesia have been trained. The initial trainings were being supported by Senior Trainers flown in from other countries – Pakistan, Philippines and Vietnam.

Onward training sessions by the MTs for teachers in their respective schools are in progress. By the end of 2007, it was reported that a total of 1,200 Participant Teachers (PTs) have been trained in Getting Started Course.

On June 26, 2007, Intel was invited by the Directorate of Educational Personnel to run a Leadership Forum for 108 principals across 29 provinces in Indonesia. The forum which was held in Bogor was facilitated with the intention to increase the principals’ and school administrators’ understanding of their important roles in building and supporting an effective technology plan in their schools to enhance the effective integration of ICT in the teaching and learning process in the classroom.

The licensing agreement was formalized between Intel and the Ministry of National Education on September 27, 2007. The softcopy of the Intel Teach – Getting Started Course curriculum has been handed over to the Ministry to be used for the sole purpose of the program.

For this first year deployment of the program, Intel has engaged the evaluators from the Open University (Universitas Terbuka) in Pondok Cabe, Tangerang to conduct the impact evaluation.

Under the agreement, Intel in partnership with DBE2 will deploy the Intel® Teach – Getting Started Course to elementary school teachers in six provinces (South Sulawesi, West Java/Banten, North Sumatera, Central Java, Acheh and East Java) where it is currently partnering the provincial governments to promote teaching, learning and application of ICT in education.

All the training with DBE2 subsequently is followed by a Leadership Forum for the school principals of the teachers trained.

Until January 2008, 6 batches of training have been done which resulted in 151 MTs and around 500 PTs in various stages of dissemination process (MT/PT training). There is one batch of training to go in East Java for the pilot project.

Intel plans to donate a total of 4,000 computers to schools in Indonesia over the period of the next 5 years under the World Ahead Program.

In 2007, Intel donated 725 PCs to schools in Indonesia. The donation aims to enhance the integration of ICT in teaching and learning in the classroom. In addition, Intel Teach – Getting Started training will also be offered in these schools.

The Department of National Education (DNE) has formed a National Education Network (Jardiknas) to develop a network infrastructure (Internet connectivity) between institution and school under DNE.

Jardiknas has sent their teachers to join one of the GS training in Jakarta. From January to March 2008, Jardiknas will conduct a MT/PT training in SMKN 4 Malang, East Java. It will be expected to a total 400 PTs.

Jardiknas plans to integrate Intel Teach Program to their own ICT training program in 2008, and it targets 11,000 MTs.