HumasUPNVJ - Indonesian independence was not awarded by foreign nations, but at stake with all body and soul. This was stated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Nadiem Makarim, which was conveyed by the Chancellor of UPN "Veteran" Jakarta Dr. Anter Venus MA Comm. in the ceremony for the 78th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia at the UPNVJ Jakarta Pondok Labu campus on Thursday, 17 August 2023.

"We are still continuing this struggle to this day with Merdeka Learning which we have been promoting for the last four years," said Venus.

Like the struggle to gain the independence of the Republic of Indonesia, Merdeka Learning is also driven by all levels of society with a spirit of mutual cooperation.

Collaboration in presenting transformation has given rise to many of the biggest changes in the journey of education in Indonesia. This is also in line with UPNVJ's determination to transform into an international-class excellent university.

Conveying Nadiem's enthusiasm for implementing the Merdeka Curriculum, Venus said that students and educators in Indonesia now feel free in teaching and learning activities.

This 'independence' in the field of education has been felt in more than 250 thousand educational units throughout Indonesia. This is also supported by the joyful transition from Early Childhood Education (PAUD) to Elementary School (SD), where children gain greater independence in developing their basic abilities.

Through this transitional movement, educators and parents are expected to understand that early childhood learning is not limited to reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also literacy and numeracy skills, communication skills, and character based on Pancasila values.

Mutual Cooperation Spirit

Supported by the Minister of Education and Culture Regulation on Prevention and Handling of Violence in Education Units, all school members are increasingly guaranteed their rights to study, work and work safely and comfortably. Mutual cooperation from all parties, from ministries, local governments, education unit members, to families, is the key to eliminating all forms of violence in the educational environment.

Committed to improving the quality and welfare of teachers, the ASN PPPK teacher selection program also continues to be held involving collaboration across ministries and agencies as well as local governments. Thanks to this mutual cooperation, a record has been set for recruiting 544 thousand ASN PPPK teachers, and this number will continue to increase until the target of 1 million teachers is reached as ASN PPPK.

For the higher education level, the Merdeka Learning Campus Merdeka programs have also succeeded in changing the lives of more than 760 thousand students. Opportunities to study outside the campus, both in industry, at school, and in the community, provide invaluable experiences for Indonesia's young generation to contribute to the nation and state.

"Our struggle in moving Merdeka Learning in the last four years has increasingly shown the importance of mutual cooperation to realize independence in the Indonesian education system," said Venus.

"To keep moving forward, we must keep going. Let's continue the spirit of our predecessors to always move simultaneously to realize Freedom of Learning," he concluded.

The ceremony for commemorating the 78th Indonesian Independence Day at UPN Veteran Jakarta also included awarding and expressing gratitude to the 16 individuals who had worked hard at UPNVJ for decades. Venus presented the awards one by one by personally congratulating them.

After that, Venus also handed over the Agent of Change certificates to three UPNVJ educators for their hard work so far in encouraging change in the campus environment and the wider community.