JAKARTA – “Every child has extraordinary potential, our job as teachers is not only to teach the material, but also to guide them to find and develop their best potential. Education must humanize people, be inclusive for all, and build a better future,” wrote Guru Epong to Great Edunesia on October 11, 2024.
A woman full of dedication to education, Epong Utami, has led the School of Human, Bekasi, since 2019. This position is a great mandate entrusted to her by two educational figures: The late Babe Andi Budimanjaya and the late Baba Munif Chatib. As Principal, Guru Epong, a familiar greeting at SGI, not only carries out leadership responsibilities, but also continues his formal education by pursuing a Masters in Educational Technology at the State University of Jakarta. This shows her determination to continue honing her skills and knowledge to support the development of education in Indonesia.
However, Epong’s journey in education actually did not start from a well-thought-out plan. While studying Chemistry Education, becoming a teacher never crossed her mind. The big change in her life happened when she was in the seventh semester. At that time, Epong was active in student organizations and became part of the campus BEM.
One of the events initiated by the education division of BEM was “Harmoni Cinta Guru,” which presented Anies Baswedan, founder of Indonesia Mengajar, as the keynote speaker. Through the event, Epong was inspired by the story and vision of Indonesia Mengajar, which moved him to understand how important the role of a teacher is.
The experience further strengthened his conviction when he began teaching chemistry at a Secondary Technical School (STM). The challenge of teaching a subject that is considered difficult provided valuable early experience for her career.
After hearing the story of Indonesia Mengajar, Epong was determined to be part of the program. Unfortunately, she did not make it through the selection process. However, the failure did not make her give up. She continued to look for other opportunities and eventually joined the SM3T program (Bachelor of Education in Outermost, Disadvantaged, and Frontier Areas) and enrolled in Sekolah Guru Indonesia (SGI), Dompet Dhuafa’s education program that focuses on developing the competence of Indonesian teachers, especially from underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas.
The SGI entrance exam took place during Ramadan. Although the distance from West Jakarta to Parung, Bogor was quite far, Epong took it with enthusiasm. The journey not only tested her physically but also strengthened her determination to devote herself to education.
After graduating from SGI, Rabbi Epong, attended a six-month debriefing and training at SMART Ekselensia Indonesia School, Parung, Bogor. There, Guru Epong had an extraordinary experience. The training was designed to hone creativity and teaching skills using innovative methods. In addition, the Islamic and energetic training atmosphere also enriched her experience. As a trainee, Epong was also given the responsibility of being the head of the Mading Team (Wall Magazine). A task that initially seemed simple, but later became a medium to develop his creative ideas.
SGI not only focuses on developing technical teaching skills, but also instills the values of volunteerism and community empowerment. Epong teachers are taught various effective learning methods, fun ice-breaking techniques, and the ability to lead in challenging situations. In addition to the training, she was also given the opportunity to intern at outstanding schools. Her internship experience at SDN Bantar Jati 9 Bogor provided new insights into how a school can be managed inclusively and innovatively.
After completing her internship in Bogor, Guru Epong was posted to Sambas, West Kalimantan, to teach at SDN 04 Sempadian. The teaching experience in this remote part of the country was full of new challenges, including managing the classroom wall magazine, decorating the library space, and archiving books in an organized manner. These challenges not only enriched her experience, but also strengthened her conviction that being a teacher is her calling in life. In Sambas, Guru Epong also collaborates with a local NGO, Sedekah Sambas, which provides additional experience through various social activities.
In 2015, Guru Epong witnessed the establishment of School of Human in Cibubur-Bekasi by Munif Chatib, an educational figure known for his revolutionary ideas. The school offers a warm and inclusive family-based education approach. Students call their teachers by familiar titles such as Kak, Om, or Bude. Despite having to compete with other more established private schools, School of Human brings a different concept, namely humanizing education.
In its second year, the school began accepting students with special needs, a move that affirmed its commitment to inclusivity. Guru Epong and the team of teachers face the challenge of structuring learning to suit the needs of each student, in line with Munif Chatib’s vision of education that puts people as the main focus.
In addition to carrying out her role as Principal, Teacher Epong also actively participates in various educational trainings and seminars. Some of his achievements include winning the Teacher Symposium organized by the Ministry of Education and Culture in 2015, becoming a Youth Pioneer of Education at the DKI Jakarta level in 2016, becoming the Top Nominees of the Paragon Awards for Education in 2021 and becoming Indonesia’s representative in the ROOTS Training program by the NAMA Foundation in 2018 which was attended by seven Muslim countries. Not only that, in 2023, Guru Epong won the Bronze Medal at the International Teachers Olympiad followed by approximately 80,000 teachers around the world, an award that further strengthens his position as one of the outstanding educators in Indonesia.
For Guru Epong, inclusive education is one of the main keys to building the future of Indonesia. She believes that every child, regardless of their background and condition, has tremendous potential that must be developed. She also hopes that teachers across Indonesia can continue to explore their best potential and adapt to the changing times. With such a vision, Guru Epong is optimistic that education in Indonesia can become more strategic and have a major impact on future generations. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text: Great Edunesia, Riza Muthohar
Photo: School of Human Assets
Editor: Dhika