Thousands of Teachers of Early Childhood Education Take a Short Course in IPB

A total of 1,200 teachers and tutors of Early Childhood Education (ECD) attended a training of early childhood education held by Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (IKK), Faculty of Human Ecology (FEMA), Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), in Graha Widya Wisuda (Graduation Building), Darmaga Campus of IPB, Bogor (25 -26/3). They come from the town of Bogor, Regency of Bogor , Cianjur, Garut and Sukabumi.

This activity, organized in cooperation of Department of Family and Consumer Sciences with Indonesia Heritage Foundation (IHF),  aims to disseminate the concept of character-based holistic education. "Through this training it is expected that the character-based holistic education concept would be implemented in kindergarten and early childhood education so that children will have better character, experience more fun in learning and good behavior of children will be formed at early age," said the organizer, Dr. Dwi Hastuti.

Head of the Department of IKK- FEMA IPB, Prof. Dr. Ujang Sumarwan emphasizes the importance of character education today. According to him, character education is a necessity. "Educating children today is to develop not only smart pupils, but also pupils of noble morality," he explained.

He said IHF has long contributed to the training of teachers, especially of the early childhood education in Indonesia. IHF has also helped Department of IKK to initiate Lab. School of Character Education in Baranangsiang, Bogor. Resource persons for the straining are instructors from IHF and lecturers from Department of IKK.

Mayor of Bogor, Dr. Bima Arya responded positively to this training. He, through Bogor City Department of Education, has officially sent a number of early childhood education teachers in the city of Bogor to attend the short course in IPB. The event was opened by IFF founder, Dr. Ratna Megawangi and Head of IKK Department, Prof. Dr. Ujang Sumarwan. (Mtd)