Klojen (malangkota.go.id) – The Independent Learning with Special Animal Children (SIMBA ASIA) innovation of SMPN 2 Malang City received positive appreciation from the assessment team of the Innovation Sustainability Monitoring and Replication (PKRI). After undergoing a virtual interview and presentation session last week, the innovation which is the result of replication and modification of the Interesting Learning with Special Students (Jarik Ma'Siti) innovation of SMPN 10 Malang City was selected to receive a field verification visit from the PKRI Independent Assessment Team of the Ministry of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB), Tuesday (23/7/2024).
Full support was expressed by the Acting Mayor of Malang Dr. Ir. Wahyu Hidayat, MM for the various innovations developed by schools in facilitating special students to be able to receive equal education, such as SIMBA ASIA. In this field verification, Wahyu also accompanied the assessment team when observing teaching and learning activities and conducting direct interviews, both with teachers and students.
"Alhamdulillah, the innovation from SMPN 2 Malang City has made it into the top ten nationally. This time, the assessment team is looking at how far the match between what was presented yesterday and the field conditions, as well as direct interviews. Alhamdulillah, we got a thumbs up and God willing, we can make it into the top five later," he said proudly.
Wahyu is optimistic that SIMBA ASIA's innovation will achieve success because it is an innovation from upstream to downstream which certainly has an impact on society, especially for students who have special needs.
SIMBA ASIA was officially implemented in 2023, but this concept has been implemented since 2022. SIMBA ASIA is here as a response to the needs of students who have special needs by developing differentiated learning.
The principal of SMPN 2 Malang City, Riatiningsih, S.Pd, MM, said that the implementation of this program was the answer to the results of the assessment of students, which identified 17 special children who needed special assistance. These special students have different needs, including those who are not yet fluent in reading, writing and arithmetic and are slow learners.
Ria said it was not easy to give understanding to the parents of the students. "Initially, there were also parents who could not accept it because their children were special, but we gave them understanding so now they support what we do for these children," explained Ria.
Ria further explained that in the SIMBA ASIA innovation there are two main things that are emphasized, namely providing independence and the existence of Student Friends. In providing independence, students are given training to do activities that for normal people are simple things but difficult for those with special needs such as attaching buttons, simple sewing, frying eggs, and even ironing. "So we train them in simple things so that they can be more independent, yes, activities that we do every day," she said.
Through SIMBA ASIA, SMPN 2 Malang City also involves other students to empathize with their friends with special needs by becoming Student Friends. "So they are ready to accompany their friends who are usually alone, shy, or often bullied. Initially we recruited them, but now many have joined. We also don't tell these Student Friends who their special friends are, but they see the condition of their friends who have attitudes like that and then accompany them," Ria explained further.
Ria said that there is no difference in the learning materials given to inclusive and regular students, however, teachers are ready to provide learning differentiation. "In general, the learning objectives given are the same, but the delivery method is different, we also differentiate the assessments and of course we provide more guidance," she continued.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Malang City Education and Culture Office (Disdikbud) Suwarjana, SE, MM said that it cannot be denied that there are indeed many special students who attend regular schools. His party is committed to continuing to provide services to all students without differentiating their conditions amidst the limited number of special assistant teachers (GPK), so one of the strategies implemented is with innovations such as Jarik Ma'Siti, SIMBA ASIA, and other innovations developed in each school.
"(Special students) We cannot reject them, so we must still accept and teach them. Even though there is no GPK, because most GPK have a background not in Education, but in Psychology. So we still serve children with special needs without GPK, and thank God, our fellow teachers in Malang City do an extraordinary job," he concluded, appreciating. (ari/yon)
