In response to concerns over negative behaviour among teenagers, Faculty of Psychology UGM and Education and Sports Agency Yogyakarta have developed Welfare School programme.
Initiated in 2015, the programme was closed with the naming of 10 Welfare School Pioneers by Head of Education Agency, Baskara Aji, on Monday (18/12) at Faculty of Psychology UGM.
“The main goal of administering education is that all stakeholders will feel happy and comfortable, hence, welfare. These schools have the duty to create the ecosystem of the Welfare School,” said Aji.
Welfare School is about the teacher, staff, students and parents supporting, appreciating, and motivating each other so the students will be raised to have a strong character, knowing their identity, productive, and contributing to community.
In the past three years, Center for Public Mental Health (CPMH) UGM has taken measures to establish Welfare School through socialisation, training on health literacy for teachers and students, assignment of psychologists and peer counselors assignment at school. Aji appreciated this change that had already happened in the schools.
Director of CPMH UGM, Diana Setiyawati, M.HSc.Psy., Ph.D., said the idea for the programme emerged in 2012 during the Declaration of Indonesian Welfare School in Yogyakarta that would focus not just on intellectuality development but also potential and mental health of the student.
“The concept was initiated by Prof. Amitya, having been rolled out until it generated the Welfare School,” said Diana.
Under this system, the students can learn better when they feel safe, happy and interested in the lessons. “The idea is about building a system that not only acts when a problem occurs, it’s about a preventive system by creating a positive climate in the class that makes the students feel respected,” she explained.
Teachers are asked to communicate more with the students. and instead of giving punishment, they are encouraged to ask the student about the reason while emphasising a more positive disciplinary approach.
She hoped the schools would be able to continue the programme and disseminate the positive concept to other schools.