Questions/Answers
Question 1
Please provide a brief summary of the initiative including the problems/challenges it addressed and the solutions that the initiative introduced (300 words maximum)
The population of poor people in Bali in 2011 amounted 4, 88%. Lack of access to education for poor students to pursue their studies at senior high schools resulted in a school enrollment rate at 68.91%. Therefore, through the Governor of Bali’s Decree No. 680/03-A/HK/2011, the Bali Provincial Government established SMAN Bali Mandara, a free boarding school for poor students. It is an innovation aimed at breaking the chain of poverty through education. This school provides residential-quality education services with full education support system, accommodating access to junior high school students of Bali Province from poor families. All investment, operational and personal financing are borne by the Bali Provincial Government.
In achieving the school’s vision of creating future leaders, students are equipped with academic and non-academic activities. In the academic field, the curriculum of SMAN Bali Mandara is conducted through Semester Credit System, Research-based School, E-Learning and Consciousness-Based Education. Non-academic activities include extra curriculum, Pathway To Leadership (PTL), entrepreneurship and outreach.
New Student Admission is conducted through 3 stages: 1) Paper-based or administrative selection; 2) Home visit to confirm on the family’s economic conditions and parental support, and 3) 3-day boot camp at the school.
After 7 years, this innovation has developed remarkably effective results. School enrollment rate has increased to 81.89% in 2017. Students’ achievements have expanded from sub-district to international levels. All SMAN Bali Mandara graduates pursued higher education not only in Indonesia but also abroad such as United States, Netherlands, England, Norway, and India. It is hoped that these graduates will become the golden generation of Indonesia in the year 2045.
a. What are the overall objectives of the initiative?
Please describe the overall objectives of the initiative (200 words maximum)
The main objectives of this innovation are as follow:
1. Providing access to students of national/Islamic junior high school graduates in Bali Province from poor family backgrounds but with the potential to excel. Parents no longer need to worry about the cost of education because it is fully covered by the Bali Provincial Government (www.baliprov.go.id)
2. Creating future leaders with character, academic abilities, and life skills
3. Accelerating poverty alleviation in Bali. By reducing the burden in financing the education of their children, parents will have the opportunity to raise funds for other needs such as small businesses that will automatically improve the welfare of their family which is the multiplier effect of this program.
4. Increasing the school enrollment rate in Bali thus producing quality human resources with various intellectual capabilities.
5. Creating a golden generation that is able to compete in the global era, equipped with various intelligence skills that are trained in SMAN Bali Mandara.
6. Being the center of excellence for the education and society in Indonesia.
b. How does the initiative fit within the selected category?
Please describe how the initiative is linked to the criteria of the category (200 words maximum)
As a means to provide quality service access for the poor and vulnerable students, an innovation in providing educational assistance at SMAN Bali Mandara is created. To further improve the access to services and transparency of public services at SMAN Bali Mandara, the following are described:
1. This innovation is a new approach that specifically provides access to full education services for poor students through a boarding system to create future leaders.
2. Student recruitments through partnerships involving current school of origin, parents, Principal Consultative Work (MKKS), NGO, Education Office, Higher Education, and Education Board to bring in targeted and transparent prospective students through paper-based, home visits, and boot camps.
3. Quality education process through Semester Credit System that gives opportunities to students to complete their education based on talents, interests, abilities, and accelerations.
4. Character formation of students through leadership, entrepreneurship, global citizenship, life-long learning, transcendental meditation, community services, research-based school and opportunity activities.
5. Implementation of E-Learning, E-Assessment, E-Report, and E-Management to improve transparency and accountability of service deliveries.
6. 100% of the students came from poor families with full education assistance from the Bali Provincial Government
7. Providing assurance to poor students with access to quality education.
Question 2
The initiative should improve people’s lives, notably by enhancing the contribution of public services to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the SDGs
a. Please explain how the initiative improves the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
7 years after implementing this innovation, the impact is gradually felt by the community. The number of applicants to become student candidates at SMA Negeri Bali Mandara increased in each academic year. Visiting guests from the schools inside and outside Bali as well as the executive and legislative branches also increased. Several benefits of this innovation, among others:
1. Benefits of access - the number of poor students absorbed to receive the quality education at SMAN Bali Mandara until academic year 2016/2017 reached as many as 500 students.
2. Improving the skills of students through entrepreneurship and extra-curricular activities as an asset to obtain decent jobs.
3. Providing multicultural and inclusive education services to ensure gender and education equality for all.
4. Implementing literacy education through silent reading and research-based school activities and improving the counting abilities through foundation activities.
5. Applying Consciousness-Based Education through routine meditation activities to optimize thinking and self-awareness capabilities among the students. As a result, no events of violence were recorded in the school.
Question 3
The initiative must impact positively a group or groups of the population (i.e. children, women, elderly, people with disability, etc) and address a significant issue of public service delivery within the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain how the initiative has addressed a significant issue related to the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
Before this innovation was conducted, low public services in education in Bali were recorded. The government has yet to focus on the school enrollment figures. Senior high school dropout rate was still high. Due to limited funds, poor students who graduated from junior high schools in 2010 preferred to work as laborers instead of pursuing higher education. The cost of education in senior high schools was also a factor in the rejection of poor students pursuing senior high schools. Access to public services for poor students in Bali in 2010 has not been maximally implemented. It was not until the founding of SMAN Bali Mandara in 2011 - a school dedicated for the poor students from all regions in the Bali Province with the aim to break the poverty chain, providing access towards decent and quality education for students as well as better welfare for their parents. These public services bring the access to government services closer to the poor, providing encouragement and full scholarships to the students. This innovation has increased the school enrollment rate from 68.91% in 2011 to 81.98% in 2016. As of 2017, there are 1001 students who received this access to education.
b. Please explain how the initiative has impacted positively a group or groups of the population within the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
This innovation has its impacts in numerous ways:
1. Able to increase the sustainability of education from junior to senior high school for poor students in Bali.
2. The use of E-Learning at SMAN Bali Mandara (www.smanbalimandara.sch.id) has greatly influenced other schools in Bali and proven in 2018 whereby all high schools are required to implement the same system.
3. Becomes the Education Center of Excellence in Bali Province, setting examples and inspiring other high schools to continue studying at SMAN Bali Mandara.
4. To build partnerships with the poor communities of the school’s surroundings, SMAN Bali Mandara continuously conducts weekly community services for vulnerable poor people, including social works of teaching dropouts in Buleleng, Bali.
5. School enrollment rate in 2017 reached 81.89%.
6. Improving the ability of students with the poor background and academically below average to become achieving students from sub-district to international levels. As of 2017, there were 250 achievements by the SMAN Bali Mandara students spread across regional, national and international levels.
7. The positive impacts of this innovation were also felt by the parents. The multiplier effect was 100% of the parents were able to improve their welfares from the scholarships at SMAN Bali Mandara.
Question 4
The initiative must present an innovative idea, a distinctively new approach, or a unique policy or approach implemented in order to realize the SDGs in the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain in which way the initiative is innovative in the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
1. Implementation of Foundation Studies as the numerical ability fundamentals and student’s learning methods.
2. Academically, the school curriculum is enriched with TOEFL IBT, TOEFL ITP, and JLPT. Study load is the Semester Credit System that provides opportunities for the students to define their own learning loads and subject types taken each semester based on their talents, interests, and acceleration, thus giving them a chance to complete their education in two to four years.
3. Implementation of Pathway to Leadership service, consisting leadership, entrepreneurship, and outreach, with main activities including community service, opportunities, Transcendental Meditation, and public speaking training.
4. Implementation of research-based school programs, whereby each student must produce at least 1 scientific paper as an attempt to build a generation of creators.
5. Implementation of E-Learning through the virtual class learning system, enabling students to improve their abilities in technology literacy and learn conveniently.
6. Student recruitment process begins with socialization to junior high schools conducted by students during the holidays, socialization through MKKS and education counselors and in disadvantaged villages, as well as the recommendation from the Junior High School Principals on the 10 poorest students. This is followed by stages of paper-based, home visits, and boot camps.
Question 4b
b. Please describe if the innovation is original or if it is an adaptation from other contexts (If it is known)? (200 words maximum)
This innovation is an original idea from the aspirations of society with full support from the provincial government of Bali. Originality of this innovation can be seen based on:
1. Student’s inputs are 100% from poor families regardless of academic achievements, whilst for public schools in general only 20% came from poor families and based on achievements.
2. The implementation of Semester Credit System in SMAN Bali Mandara shall become a model as the only public school in Bali that conducts this system.
3. The inclusion of leadership, entrepreneurship, and community service programs into co-curricular activities can be adapted by other schools as a means of enhancing the soft skills and character of students.
4. Awareness-based and research-based school education are included in intra-curricular activities and could be adapted by other schools to improve the students' emotional skills.
5. Students obtain full scholarships from the government for education and living expenses.
6. The initiator of this innovation is the Governor of Bali, then reviewed and developed by Team 9 consisting of the expert teams, education council, the Educational Quality Assurance Agency (LPMP) and education office to analyze and develop innovative plans.
Question 4c
c. What resources (i.e. financial, human , material or other resources, etc) were used to implement the initiative? (200 words maximum)
This innovation is designed with a participatory approach involving various stakeholders as follow:
1. The Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia - provides program support, guidance, monitoring and evaluation.
2. Bali Provincial Government - initiated this innovation and provides support on funds, facilities, and human resources.
3. Bali Provincial Education Office - provides guidance, monitoring and evaluation, and facilitates the relationship with the Central Government.
4. School committees - provide support, supervision, mediation and giving consideration to the school.
5. Educators as implementers of innovation - educating, teaching, training and as a model.
6. Educational personnel - serving the administration, and preparation of infrastructure facilities.
7. Facilities and infrastructure - as a supporter of the implementation of innovation.
8. Sources of funds.
9. Parents of students - monitoring their children’s study results and fostering them.
10. Third parties with the access to education, scholarships and internships.
Question 5
The initiative should be adaptable to other contexts (e.g. other cities, countries or regions). There may already be evidence that it has inspired similar innovations in other public-sector institutions within a given country, region or at the global level.
a. Has the initiative been transferred to other contexts?
Yes
Several potential points could be replicated from this innovation:
1. The boarding school system is able to develop students with various intelligence skills, making them prepared to compete in the global era.
2. Semester Credit System is able to serve students in a humanely and holistically environment based on their talents, interests and intelligence levels. Schools that have transferred the replication from SMAN Bali Mandara include SMA Islam Al-Azhar 2 Jakarta, SMAN 2 Sangata Utara East Kalimantan, SMAN 4 Jayapura Papua and SMA Islam Al-Azhar 3 Jakarta.
3. Conciousness-Based Education through Transcendental Meditation is a capable method of total brain development of the students, shaping them to become the vibrant center of total knowledge. This activity has been replicated by all schools in Bali and becomes the education policy of Bali Province.
4. E-Learning can be replicated in all high schools in Bali. This system utilizes virtual classroom in its application to improve technology literacy.
5. Research-based School is an innovation that has been replicated by model schools in Bali.
Question 6
The initiative should be able to be sustained over a significant period of time.
a. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable (covering the social, economic and environmental aspects) (300 words maximum)
This innovation is sustainable due to the following:
1. Social aspect - The existence of good collaboration between the families, schools and society as an effort to support the improvement of innovation quality.
2. Economic aspect - Provision of budgets by the Provincial Government of Bali to provide education assistance to the students of SMAN Bali Mandara every year through the Budget Implementation Document (DPA) funds.
3. The regulation that supports this innovation is through Governor Regulation No. 43 2013 concerning the Management of SMA / SMK Negeri Bali Mandara, which has been reviewed with the Governor of Bali Regulation No. 1 2015 concerning amendment to Governor Regulation No. 43 of 2013 concerning the Management System of Senior High School / State Vocational High School Bali Mandara Bali Province (www.smknbalimandara.sch.id).
b. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable in terms of durability in time (300 words maximum)
This innovation has been commencing since 2011 until present. The sustainability of this innovation has received a very positive response from the community, such that year by year, the quality of students increased while their achievements continued to experience very significant improvements. The sustainability of this innovation is supported by:
1. The Governor of Bali Regulation No. 1 of 2015 could become an assurance to the community for the sustainability of this innovation.
2. The positive cooperation between the provincial government, local parliament (DPRD) and the community is very capable to strengthen the sustainability of this innovation particularly in terms of funding.
3. The communities were very keen to send their children to school. The number of applicants increased each year and can only be accepted as much as 16%.
4. Continuous capacity improvement of educators through teachers’ training as stipulated in the schools’ Work and Budget Planning (RKA).
5. Quality and quantity improvements of school facilities and infrastructure that is applicable to the requirements through budgeting at the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA).
6. Continuous program developments in accordance with the requirements to produce future leaders.
Question 7
The initiative should have gone through a formal evaluation, showing some evidence of impact on improving people’s lives.
a. Has the initiative been formally evaluated?
Yes
If yes, please describe how the initiative was evaluated? (200 words maximum)
This innovation is evaluated annually. Some evaluations done are as follow:
1. Innovation evaluation is done in every semester by the School Internal Audit Team (TAIS, TÜV Rheinland Indonesia certified) to discover the innovation’s target accessibility and detect any emerging problems in advance.
2. Innovation evaluation is also conducted by the Bali Provincial Education Office Supervisory Team identify any obstacles, accomplishments and impacts of innovation. The evaluation aspect consists of 8 Education Standards established by the Government.
3. The annual evaluation of customer satisfaction conducted by the SMAN Bali Mandara Public Relations team to obtain information on primary (students and teachers), secondary (parents), and tertiary (student’s school of origin and related institutions) customer satisfaction.
4. Inspection by the State Audit Agency (BPK) to examine on the management and accountability of state finances. Throughout its implementation from 2014 to 2017, this innovation gets an unqualified opinion from BPK.
b. Please describe the outcome of the evaluation of the impact of the initiative (200 words maximum)
The evaluation impact of each indicator is as follows.
1. The evaluation impact from School Internal Audit Team is to overcome any barriers related to the implementation of innovation and search for solutions.
2. Increase in access to education services that continues to grow in Bali.
3. As the center of excellence, it is definitely able to improve partnership communication and quality with poor and vulnerable students, thus breaking the poverty chain in Bali.
4. The character-shaping and overall brain function empowerment of the students shall produce the young generation in Bali as brilliant, future leaders in 2045.
5. The evaluation impact by the Bali Provincial Education Office Supervisory Team is to improve the quality of innovation in the following year.
6. The impact of customer satisfaction is the improvement of service quality in the implementation of innovation.
7. The evaluation impact by State Audit Agency is to identify the suitability between budget planning and realization.
c. Please describe the indicators that were used (200 words maximum)
The impacts of innovation are as follows:
1. Students' achievements in academic and non-academic fields are increasing from year to year. Start from 2011 is 41 until 2017 is 199 achievement.
2. All graduates of SMA Negeri Bali Mandara further their education to universities or vocational schools not only in Indonesia but abroad. University of Kansas 1 person and Osmania University 4 student.
3. Replication on elements of innovation occurred in terms of semester credit system, E-Learning, Research-Based School, CBE in schools in Bali and Indonesia
4. Increase enrollment rate from 68.91% to 81.98% in 2017
Question 8
The initiative must demonstrate that it has engaged various actors such as from other institutions, civil society, or the private sector, when possible.
a. The 2030 Development Agenda puts emphasis on collaboration, engagement, coordination, partnerships, and inclusion. Please describe what stakeholders were engaged in designing, implementing and evaluating the initiative. Please also highlight their roles and contributions (300 words maximum)
The on-going collaboration and partnerships developed by SMAN Bali Mandara played roles and influence in shaping students’ intelligence skills, among others:
1. Educators and education personnel are assigned to manage, implement and evaluate innovation.
2. Students are the beneficiaries of this innovation.
3. Bali Provincial Education Office organizes all financing, assign supervisors to develop and monitor the progress in SMAN Bali Mandara.
4. Bali Provincial Government prepares the investment, operational and personal financing as well as regulations that support the innovation.
5. The People's Legislative Assembly control and approve the budget for the implementation of innovation.
6. The central government prepares the School Operational Assistance (BOS).
7. Maharishi University of Management, Iowa, and United States shall train and instill awareness among the students through Consciousness-Based Education (CBE).
8. General Consulates from India, Japan and America assist in providing access for further studies and cultural exchange.
9. Sister school with various schools in Bali and Indonesia help in improving the quality and sharing of innovation.
10. State and private universities in Indonesia play roles by providing access to tertiary education for SMAN Bali Mandara graduates.
11. Windsheim University, Netherlands assists in internship programs.
12. Outsourcing both from Indonesia and abroad are empowered to the greatest extent depending on the allocated time. Among the programs conducted by outsourcing from abroad included sex education, stress management, English course, piano course, and painting.
13. Alumni are extraordinary human resources to share motivation, insights and information on higher institutions.
14. School committees provide support, control and implementation of innovation.
15. MKKS acts in recommending prospective new students.
16. Educational councils act to control and advice on innovation implementation.
17. The student’s school of origin of helps to provide recommendations to prospective new students.
Question 9
a. Please describe the key lessons learned, and any view you have on how to further improve the initiative (200 words maximum)
Several challenges and solutions were faced with this innovation, as follow:
1. Received inputs revealed that the students from poor families were very sensitive, low in self-esteem and with unconvincing academic abilities. These obstacles are solved by nurturing self-confidence among the students through activities such as The Calling, Inauguration, the forming of peer counseling and the foundation.
2. Very limited school capacity of only 128 people each year whereas the number of applicants for the academic year 2016/2017 reached 896. This is solved by implementing the E-Learning system (virtual class).
3. Commitment from the schools in providing information and recommendations to prospective students as there was still poor students who were unaware of this innovation. This is solved through socialization by SMAN Bali Mandara students during school holidays to other schools as well as poor villages.
4. Proposing a Regional Regulation to embrace this innovation.
5. To propose to the Ministry of Education on making this innovation a model to be implemented in other places.