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| More than 4,500 Students and Teachers Filled the Dome of Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) at the Prestigious Muhammadiyah Education (ME) Award Event (Photo : Lintang PR) |
More than 4,500 students and teachers filled the Dome of Muhammadiyah Malang University (UMM) on October 20. This crowd gathered for the prestigious Muhammadiyah Education (ME) Award, which brought together schools from all levels, including elementary, junior high, and senior high schools. Numerous competitions were held to inspire both students and teachers to strive for victory. The contests ranged from robotics, mathematics, science, Arabic and English speech competitions, to outstanding teacher awards, business plans, and more.
Special Presidential Advisor Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Effendy, M.A.P. attended the opening ceremony and offered motivation. He emphasized that the ME Award is highly important and meaningful for students to connect and develop their skills. Improving students' abilities is a critical responsibility that should be undertaken by teachers, parents, and anyone involved in education. According to him, Muhammadiyah students must be equipped with critical thinking skills to nurture creativity that will be useful in the future.
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“We must guide our students to a higher level by teaching them broad thinking skills. Every school must ensure that its students have good communication skills, innovation, high creativity, and strong collaboration with people around them. These efforts are made so that Muhammadiyah schools can produce excellent generations in the future,” he said.
Muhadjir further explained the challenges faced by Indonesian students today, one of which is the relatively low level of communication skills. The use of only one language in the learning process and daily life has hindered the development of communication skills in society. He compared Indonesia with Malaysia and Singapore, where English is also used as a second language, boosting the confidence of their citizens. Therefore, the ME Awards is seen as a valuable platform to boost the confidence of Indonesian students, particularly in East Java.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Muhammadiyah Regional Leadership (PWM) of East Java, Dr. dr. Sukadiono, M.M., mentioned three key characteristics of successful leaders. First, they must be able to bring about positive change within their institution, making it better, more advanced, and superior. Second, they must have a clear vision to improve their school. Third, they must possess unique advantages that set their institution apart. “These three things must be owned by a leader. Leading is not just about fulfilling obligations, but truly committing to and developing Muhammadiyah's educational efforts,” he emphasized.
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Regarding the ME Award, Sukadiono congratulated everyone involved and wished success for the event in 2024. He reminded participants that winning and losing are normal, but what matters is how they motivate themselves to excel.
“I hope all Muhammadiyah schools, especially in East Java, can create high-quality human resources and integrate faith and knowledge. This will give rise to the future leaders of our nation,” he concluded. (zaf/wil/Fajr)
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