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“The presence of one male teacher helped participants realize that educating children is not just a woman’s duty, but a shared responsibility between men and women.”
The primary goal of the project is to Improving the quality of education in Maluku, particularly in ECE Program.
Main Objectives:
- Developing teachers’ understanding about children and how to create a classroom environment which promotes children wellbeing
- Exposing and introducing teachers to play based learning
- Building Heka Leka’s credibility and expertise in ECE
- Creating teacher training modules that can be used more widely by Heka Leka and other Organization
The ECE Teachers Training Project, led by Tirsana Wendry Kailola under the Heka Leka Foundation, aimed to improve early childhood education (ECE) in Maluku by training preschool teachers on child development, play-based learning, and children's rights. The project provided professional development workshops for 21 teachers from 11 preschools across Saparua and Nusa Laut Islands. The training introduced modern educational methods, emphasized positive discipline, and encouraged teachers to incorporate local culture into their teaching. Through hands-on activities, group discussions, and role-playing, teachers explored how to create child-friendly classrooms and implement play-based learning effectively.
The workshops were highly interactive, incorporating learning stations, creative classroom planning, and storytellingto help teachers understand the importance of child development theories. Participants reflected on their past teaching practices, acknowledging that some traditional disciplinary methods were harmful and committing to adopting positive discipline strategies. Teachers also learned how to use natural and recycled materials to create affordable teaching resources, addressing budget constraints. The school monitoring phase revealed that eight out of eleven schools successfully implemented play-based learning, created structured yet engaging classroom environments, and improved student participation and well-being.
The project had a lasting impact on teacher awareness, classroom management, and community engagement in early childhood education. Heka Leka Foundation strengthened its reputation in ECE training, receiving invitations to expand the program to seven more villages in Nusa Laut. Additionally, the teachers' commitment to child-friendly learning environments led to the signing of a declaration to uphold children's rights in education. While challenges such as budget limitations and developing training modules arose, the project successfully equipped teachers with practical skills and knowledge that will benefit future generations of children in Maluku.
