Sampoerna Foundation Teacher Institute (SF TI) together with Edith Cowan University (ECU) Australia plans to set up the Asia Pacific Center of Excellence for Teacher Education and Innovation in Indonesia. The Memorandum of Understanding will be signed by Mr. Elan Merdy, Chief Operating Officer Sampoerna Foundation and Prof. Greg Robson, Head of School of Education, Faculty of Education and Arts ECU in SF TI campus, Jakarta (17/04).

With the aim to improve the professionalism of teachers in Indonesia, the Asia Pacific Center of Excellence for Teacher Education and Innovation will function as a place to exchange information and knowledge for the Asia Pacific region to help enhance the skills of the teachers across Indonesia. As the pilot project, SF TI and ECU will join forces with the local Education Department to help establish the Center of Excellence for Teacher Education and Innovation in Jakarta, Bali, and Denpasar.

”We hope that the Center of Excellence will serve as a strategic hub for teachers across Indonesia in their efforts to boost their level of professionalism by absorbing and sharing information and innovation with other countries in the Asia Pacific region,” Elan stated after the signing.

In addition, Elan also stated that in the 1960s, the quality of the teachers in Indonesia was recognized in the international forum. Malaysia even imported the Indonesian teachers to teach and improve the education quality in its country. However, now the education quality in Indonesia is less than promising. ”With this opportunity, we expect the teachers in Indonesia to feel more motivated to compete in the international arena,” Elan added.

Based on the 2005 data from the Ministry of Education, from 3,014,750 teachers (elementary to tertiary levels) in Indonesia, more than 58.35% of them do not have the required undergraduate qualification. 934,680 of them only have the diploma certification. The highest number of underqualified teachers is found in the elementary level. For this level, the teachers who do not the tertiary qualification have reached 1,256,245 or around 91,06%.