The Indonesian Education and Culture Attaché Office of the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra in collaboration with the University of Education of Indonesia, Jakarta State University and Semarang State University sent 18 university students to become Indonesian language assistant teachers in Australian schools. This year is the third year that the Indonesian Education and Culture Attaché Office in Canberra in collaboration with universities in Indonesia sent Indonesian language teachers to Australian schools. Education and Culture Attaché, Mukhamad Najib in a press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra in Jakarta on Tuesday (23/7) explained that he did this to help Australian students learn Indonesian better by considering that many schools lack of Indonesian language teachers in Australia.
Najib further also said that through the program, universities in Indonesia can provide opportunities for students to learn about the education system in Australia so that they have a good international experience. According to Najib , the auxiliary teachers sent are those who are implementing the international Teaching Skills Practice program which is part of the final project. This is also an implementation of the international mobility program of universities in Indonesia so that they get full support from their respective universities.
Moreover, Najib pointed out that since two years ago, it has been working with universities in Indonesia to send auxiliary teachers from students who are doing international Teaching Skills Practices. In this case, the Education and Culture Attaché helps facilitate and find schools that need Indonesian auxiliary teachers. He hopes that the students sent later can act as cultural ambassadors and can introduce and teach Indonesian culture to students in Australian schools so that they get to know and love Indonesia. This will have a positive impact on strengthening Indonesia-Australia relations in the future.
Then, an Indonesian teacher at St. Clare Assisi Primary School, Margo Smith welcomed the presence of Indonesian teachers. According to Margo, it is very important for students to practice conversations directly with Indonesian native speakers. An Indonesian teacher of Hunting Tower School Melbourne, Tata Survi also felt greatly helped by the presence of Indonesian students who are doing Teaching Skills Practice. In line with that, another teacher, Peter Monteath from Adelaide also expressed his appreciation for the support of the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra in learning Indonesian language in Adelaide. With the presence of Indonesian teachers, it is hoped that the students will be more motivated to learn Indonesian.