Salatiga City Becomes Pilot Project for Bilingual Child Protection and Safeguarding Program in 6 Schools

Salatiga City Becomes "Pilot Project for Bilingual Child Protection and Safeguarding Program in 6 Schools

Salatiga - Salatiga City Education Office received a visit from James Thomas, Managing Director of DEPI (PT. Digital Education Partnerships Indonesia) to represent TeachUp, to propose to make Salatiga a pilot project location for TeachUp's "Bilingual Child Protection and Safeguarding" pilot program in six schools.

 TeachUp is a UK child protection and safeguarding organisation specialising in online training for the whole school community (including both faculty and non-support staff and faculty staff). The program aims to strengthen child protection across the whole school  in selected schools, by providing all school staff with certified online bilingual child protection and safeguarding training

. A meeting was held at Salatiga City Education Office on Tuesday (13/11/2024) to discuss the pilot project and it's objectives. The meeting was attended by various relevant parties, including school principals and representatives of other educational institutions.

The six schools designated as pilot project sites are SDN Salatiga 05, SDN Tingkir Tengah 01,SDN Ledok 02, Mountainview Christian School, and SD Muhammadiyah 1 and 2 Plus Kota Salatiga. TeachUp's bilingual online courses have been created by international education experts and are based on international best practice, but have been adapted to focus on Indonesian regulations and customs. 

The courses have been designed to create a safe and comfortable learning environment for students by educating teachers and staff on violence prevention and response.

The Head of Salatiga City Education Office, Nunuk Dartini, welcomed the initiative and emphasized the urgency of child protection in educational settings. "This Child Protection and Safeguarding Pilot Project program is essential to provide students and staff with an understanding of child protection. Through this program, we expect to create a safe learning environment where children can develop well," she said.

James Thomas explained that the program is designed to ensure the safety and well-being of children in schools, and has been implemented in various countries around the world, including in several Southeast Asian countries."TeachUp Child Protection and Safeguarding is a child safety-focused initiative. 

The bilingual courses are certified by CPD UK, a recognized UK accreditation body seen as the 'gold standard' for professional learning, ensuring participants meet high child protection standards,"he explained.

Sielvy Megawati, from Edufirst Indonesia, as the facilitator of the program, adds that the training also includes an in-depth understanding of the different forms of child abuse and appropriate actions when abuse is indicated. "The program also teaches legal responsibilities for all adults working with children, so they are better prepared to deal with potentially dangerous situations,"Sielvy said.

Syaifulloh, Central Java BBPMP Consultant, also attended the meeting and assessed that this program can support the efforts of each education unit through the Education Unit Violence Prevention Team (TPPKSP). "This Child Protection and Safeguarding program is a proactive approach to protecting children in schools. Through the knowledge and skills that are provided, we can build a culture of safety and vigilance in the educational environment,"he added.