Since she began serving as a teacher in 2007, Karmawati has always held on to one belief: every child has the right to quality education. For her, being an educator is not only about teaching in the classroom, but also about nurturing hope, especially for children who have not yet fully had the opportunity and support to learn. This is the spirit she continues to carry today, as she serves as both a teacher and a school principal supported by the KREASI Program in Kayong Utara District.
As a woman, educator, wife, and mother, Karmawati’s journey has not always been easy. Her greatest challenge is managing her time and energy between her responsibilities at school and her role at home. At school, she must ensure that the learning process runs well, support teachers, guide students, and manage various needs of the education unit. At home, she continues to carry out her role within her family. Yet, amid these challenges, Karmawati strives to remain a strong, patient, and consistent figure for her students.
Change became increasingly visible when her school became part of the KREASI Program’s support. Over the course of one year of mentoring, Karmawati saw a new momentum in the learning process at school. The KREASI Program broadened teachers’ perspectives on learning methods and media that are more creative, enjoyable, and responsive to students’ needs. Learning that had previously tended to be routine gradually became more lively and participatory.
For Karmawati, one of the most tangible impacts of KREASI has been the increased interest and talents of students. Children have become more enthusiastic about learning as teachers have begun using more varied approaches. More creative learning media help students understand lessons more easily, become more willing to participate, and grow more confident in showing their abilities. This change has also contributed to a real improvement in students’ learning outcomes.
The impact of KREASI is also felt by the teachers. Through mentoring and capacity strengthening, teachers have gained new inspiration to develop their teaching methods. They are not only encouraged to understand the material, but also to try learning strategies that are more child-friendly and inclusive. For Karmawati as a school principal, this change has become an important foundation for building a better learning culture at school.
Karmawati believes that good education must provide equal opportunities for all children, regardless of gender. She hopes that children in her area, especially girls, will continue to dare to dream and pursue the highest possible education. For her, women have the same rights to learn, grow, and contribute to Indonesia’s future.
In the spirit of Kartini Day, Karmawati’s journey shows that educational change can begin in the classroom, with teachers who continue to learn and schools that are open to renewal. Through the KREASI Program, she has seen that when teachers are strengthened, students grow; and when schools are supported, children’s hopes open wider.
“Do not complain easily, never be afraid, and never feel inferior to men. We all have the same position and rights. Keep your spirit high, develop your potential, and let us work together for the progress of the nation,” Karmawati said.
For Karmawati and her school, KREASI is more than just a mentoring program. KREASI has become a shared learning space that helps teachers find new ways to teach, helps students discover a renewed enthusiasm for learning, and helps schools move toward education that is more inclusive, creative, and meaningful.
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KREASI (Collaboration for the Education of Indonesian Children) is a program to improve the quality of education by strengthening literacy, numeracy, and character education. KREASI in Kayong Utara is managed by Save the Children and implemented by Majelis Dikdasmen PNF PP Muhammadiyah, with funding from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), as well as support from the Government of Kayong Utara and Indonesia’s Local Education Group, led by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag).
Writer: Arif Kudianta| Editor: Andika Ramadhan | Photo: Arif Kudianta/KREASI/Majelis Dikdasmen PNF PP Muhammadiyah/Save the Children