A total of 26 students from the Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Purworejo, and Sukabumi attended a teacher training program between 3 April 2019 and 28 April 2019 conducted by the School Education, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities (FSSH). This was the first batch of teacher training ‘sit-in’ for the year 2019.

The students were posted in four schools ; two primary schools or Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) and two  secondary schools or Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK). Sixteen students were placed at SMK Seri Pulai Perdana and SMK Skudai. Meanwhile, five students were placed at SK Nong Chik and another five at SK Taman Sri Pulai. The five students placed at SK Nong Chik had the opportunity to live with their foster parents who are members of the Parents Teachers Association (PIBG), SK Nong Chik. This gives them the opportunity to dive into the local culture of Johor Bahru.

The International Sit-In Teacher Training Program is a collaborative program between the School of Education, FSSH and several universities in Indonesia. Some of the collaborating universities include Universitas Muhammadiyah, Universitas Negeri Makassar, Universitas Malang, Universitas PGRI Semarang, and Universitas Lambung Mangkurat Banjarmasin.

The program which is managed by the Teacher Training Committee led by Mr. Mohd Ali Ibrahim since 2013 and has received excellent responses from neighboring countries as it has had positive impacts on their students in terms of developing personal skills, teaching experience, and progressing school culture. The program has also enjoyed good cooperation by school leaders in the Johor Bahru, Kulai and Pasir Gudang districts. The schools involved have also reported that they have benefited from the program as it exposes students and teachers to teaching and learning practices from other countries. As such, this program is important in that it provides an excellent collaboration platform for linkages between the School of Education, FSSH with overseas and local education institutions. Any interested parties who wish to be involved with this teacher training program can contact Mr. Mohd Ali Ibrahim (p-mali@utm.my).

By Norasykin Mohd Zaid, Norulhuda Ismail, Mohd Ali Ibrahim

Sit-in students, teachers and sit-in committee representatives at SMK Skudai.

Sit-in students, teachers and sit-in committee representatives at SK Nong Chik.

Meeting between administration FSSH with sit-in students and their teachers at SoE, FSSH.