Kurusu explained that early childhood education in Japan has adopted the STEAM approach. STEAM is a learning approach that integrates science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics to address real-world problems.
In a statement in Jakarta on Friday, the founder and owner of Azalee Group stated that the essence of the STEAM system for early childhood education is to ensure that children see learning as playing, engaging in exploration, creativity, and self-expression.
"Hence, learning becomes something fun. This is the essence of STEAM education from an early age," Kurusu stated.
Kurusu earlier met with officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) to discuss the future of the early childhood learning system.
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Kurusu also assessed that Indonesia has the potential to adopt the STEAM education system approach, along with a strategy for developing teacher capacity in collaboration with Japan in the early childhood education sector.
Meanwhile, Suparto, the Ministry's Director of Early Childhood Education (PAUD) and Non-Formal Education (PNF) Teachers, expressed appreciation for Kurusu's insights into Japan's learning approach, deep learning, which emphasizes experience and reflection.
"We strongly support the idea that deep learning must involve the process of experiencing, sharing, and conveying it back to others," Suparto stated, adding that there are currently 67,200 PAUD teachers in Indonesia.
At the meeting, founders of Sakuranesia Foundation, Sakura Ijuin and Tovic Rustam, who facilitated the event, expressed hope that the discussion would be the first step toward establishing a foundation for the STEAM education policy in Indonesia.
"As well as strengthening international cooperation between Indonesia and Japan in the field of teacher development and early childhood education," Rustam stated.
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Translator: Citro A, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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