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Miftahudin: Transforming Marginalised School through Disruptive Innovations
Going to school each morning to teach, then leaving in the afternoon, only to repeat the routine day after day—this monotonous cycle is abhorred by Miftahudin, the principal of State Junior High School 3 Semarang (SMPN 3 Semarang). Affectionately known as ‘Pak Miftah’ by his students and colleagues, he believes being a teacher means constantly innovating and motivating others.
Working as an educator since 2003, Miftah has garnered numerous accolades, including being named Indonesia’s Most Outstanding Teacher in 2016 and receiving the prestigious Satyalancana Honorary Mark from the Indonesian President in 2018.
Guided by his principles that learning is a lifelong endeavour, Miftah is currently a doctoral candidate at Satya Wacana Christian University in Salatiga, Central Java. His fervour for education previously led him to study in Australia, further broadening his horizons.
In 2015, the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture selected Miftah to participate in an overseas training programme at Victoria University. The following year, he enrolled in the Australia Awards Short Course on Primary and Junior Secondary Teacher Professional Development Program at the University of Melbourne.
During the second sojourn in Australia, Miftah had the unique opportunity of living with an elderly Australian couple, both of whom were primary school teachers. The experience offered him an intimate glimpse into the lives of Australian educators.
"Every single night, I observed how my host family meticulously prepared their teaching materials,” Miftah recalled, amazed by their dedication.
"The materials were packed into a large suitcase as if they were going on a vacation. I was awestruck by their passion for teaching despite their advanced age," he added.
Miftah frequently recounted these stories to inspire his colleagues and other educators in Indonesia.
Embracing Interactive Learning
Miftah drew inspiration from observing the best practices of project-based learning, problem-based learning, and classroom management in Australia. After the overseas training in 2015, Miftah, then a math teacher at SMPN 10 Semarang, sought to replicate these interactive learning methods based on his Australian experience.
During the training, he noted how public parks in Australia offered a fun, treasure-hunt-like approach to learning mathematics. Observing the Australian teaching and learning process also inspired him to develop a peer tutor system, where some of the brightest students are trained to help others.
"There are so many best practices I found in Australia that I implemented in Indonesia," Miftah said, adding that these practices boost students’ motivation to study.
Disruptive Innovation
In 2019, Miftah was appointed principal of SMPN 28 Semarang, a suburban school often stigmatised as the least favourite and underestimated by the public. As principal, Miftah introduced a series of disruptive innovations, some of which were inspired by his experiences in Australia.
"During my time in Australia, all students were seen as equally talented individuals, and schools always did their best to unleash each student’s potential," he explained. Miftah’s disruptive innovations encouraged both students and teachers to step outside their comfort zone.
He urged students and teachers to engage in creative digital activities such as podcasts and content creation. Inspired by Australian schools that display students’ artwork to motivate and appreciate them, he transformed an abandoned room into a podcast studio and art gallery.
According to Miftah, these digital activities also aimed to improve the image of SMPN 28 Semarang. The school’s YouTube channel now features over 600 hundred videos, ranging from podcasts to vlogs created by students and teachers.
“I want to prove that the students at SMPN 28 Semarang are as capable as those from the favourite schools in Semarang,” he said.
Miftah also held weekly sharing sessions for teachers to discuss challenges in the teaching and learning process.
"Seeing how Australian schools ran weekly reflection sessions for the teachers, I tried to implement the same, and it has positively impacted teachers’ competencies," he said.
As the first state junior high school in Semarang to have a podcast, Miftah’s initiatives have garnered attention and recognition from the local government. His innovations made him the Most Outstanding Junior High School Principal in Semarang in 2022.
“Witnessing the best practices implemented by teachers in Australia and knowing their dedication and commitment has inspired me as a teacher and principal,” said Miftah, who has been nominated as one of 100 inspiring alumni from Semarang State University.
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