Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Atip Latipulhayat, has asked teachers to augment and assess their Indonesian language proficiency by taking the Indonesian Language Proficiency Test (UKBI).
“Teachers must possess above-average proficiency (in the Indonesian language),” he said during an event promoting the importance of Indonesian language proficiency in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He emphasized that this applies to all educators and is not limited to those specializing in teaching the Indonesian language in schools.
While all teachers are expected to have mastery over their subjects, they must be proficient in the Indonesian language to ensure that the lessons they teach are effectively understood by students, the deputy minister explained.
“This is because teachers share their knowledge through the Indonesian language,” he said.
He also indicated the possibility of the government issuing a policy to make it mandatory for teachers to get a passing score in UKBI in the future.
“Maybe UKBI will be set as one of the requirements for people to become teachers. There might be a certain level for citizens to reach in Indonesian language proficiency to attain teacher status,” he said.
Meanwhile, head of the Language Development and Guidance Agency of the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry, Hafidz Muksin, said that his side is committed to strengthening the role of the UKBI in enhancing human resource quality.
“We continue to innovate and make utmost efforts to improve the Indonesian Language Proficiency Test, making it more affordable, systematic, and adaptive,” he added.
He informed that his office has upgraded the UKBI website to add fresh and more accessible features.
The language agency has also forged cooperation with regional governments to improve teacher competency, including through UKBI.
“Several regional leaders have allocated budgets to strengthen teachers’ commitment to Indonesian language proficiency,” he stated.
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“Teachers must possess above-average proficiency (in the Indonesian language),” he said during an event promoting the importance of Indonesian language proficiency in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He emphasized that this applies to all educators and is not limited to those specializing in teaching the Indonesian language in schools.
While all teachers are expected to have mastery over their subjects, they must be proficient in the Indonesian language to ensure that the lessons they teach are effectively understood by students, the deputy minister explained.
“This is because teachers share their knowledge through the Indonesian language,” he said.
He also indicated the possibility of the government issuing a policy to make it mandatory for teachers to get a passing score in UKBI in the future.
“Maybe UKBI will be set as one of the requirements for people to become teachers. There might be a certain level for citizens to reach in Indonesian language proficiency to attain teacher status,” he said.
Meanwhile, head of the Language Development and Guidance Agency of the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry, Hafidz Muksin, said that his side is committed to strengthening the role of the UKBI in enhancing human resource quality.
“We continue to innovate and make utmost efforts to improve the Indonesian Language Proficiency Test, making it more affordable, systematic, and adaptive,” he added.
He informed that his office has upgraded the UKBI website to add fresh and more accessible features.
The language agency has also forged cooperation with regional governments to improve teacher competency, including through UKBI.
“Several regional leaders have allocated budgets to strengthen teachers’ commitment to Indonesian language proficiency,” he stated.
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Translator: Hana D, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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