Curriculum for Social Worker Education or Social Welfare (Kesos) obtained serious attention from the Social Workers' Educational Association of Indonesia (IPPSI). To face future challenges, the recent curriculum needs to be reformed so that it would meet the needs of workers who now lead to the social worker profession.
The Chief of Social Welfare Department of the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), Dra. July Astutik, M.Si explained that to improve the quality of education in which UMM has collaborated with IPPSI, both have compiled GBPP (Outlines of Teaching Program) curriculum through a two-day workshop that took place on Monday-Tuesday (6/13-14). "We are very serious about advancing the curriculum. Incidentally this is the agenda of IPPSI," said July, Tuesday (06/21).
Furthermore, July explained that the workshop was followed by the management of Social Welfare Department from State Universities (PTNs) and Private Universities (PTSs) throughout Indonesia. In addition to the IPPSI, the workshop also involved NGO Save the Children and Building Professional Social Work.
The workshop presented expert staff from Social Ministry of the Republic of Indonesia, Drs. Marzuki, M. Si, and Child Protection Specialist from UNICEF, Astrid Gonzaga Dionisio. The attendees represented 23 universities, including lecturers from Aceh to Maluku. Total number of participant was 34 people.
According to the Chief of Executive, Drs. Rinekso Kartono, M. Si, GBPP is a brief description of the courses taught in study program/department. GBPP is a basic reference in the preparation of syllabus and lecture units in the study program of Social Welfare/Social Worker. GBBP is an accountability form of college lecturers to their universities and students. Rinekso also explained that the workshop was also to improve the quality of the courses in the lecture. In addition, UMM Social Welfare alumni should be qualified. Producing qualified graduates is the vision and mission of Muhammadiyah universities. "All the Social Worker Education should be standardized nationwide by being accredited as Social Worker", he added.
Chief of IPPSI, Fentiny Nugroho, MA, Ph.D explained that curriculum development is a sustainable activity in which the core curriculum for Social Welfare Education/Social Worker in Indonesia also had been formulated in the event of national workshop in Jember. In addition, the steering committee and the team have decided to monitor the minimum number of core curriculum for the Department of Education itself has set a minimum amount of 60% of subjects. So, schools can develop in accordance with local needs which are about 19 courses.
Referring to the global-standardized level of curriculum and local and national development, there has been a lot of discourses on multicultural issues recently. Therefore, there would be two courses that need to be inserted into the core subjects, namely Social Welfare/Social Workers in a multicultural society, and Methods of Generalist Social Work/Methods of Generalist Social Worker to replace the course Methods of Social Workers since there should be specialism among groups, individuals and communities. "The participants are also required to formulate in accordance with their expertise and school development. GBPP will become a reference in the implementation of the core curriculum because in the near future there will be held certification of Social Workers. It's very important to implement the standardized curriculum," he added.
Similar with the previous statement, Prof. Isbandi Rukminto Adi, M. Kes, Ph.D. also explained about the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI) and the competence of the welfare science degree program. KKNI is a stand-alone system and is the bridge between education and training sectors to establish qualified and certified national human resources through a scheme of formal education, non formal, informal, job training or work experience.
Drs. Tata Sudrajat, M.Si, the Chief of Save the Children Indonesia and also incorporated in IPSPI (Indonesian Association of Professional Social Workers) also said the fact in several studies that the role of social workers who work directly for the children and family is still very limited. It is because care and counseling to children rely more on the orphanage system. Besides, there are more social workers who work for the orphanage instead of plunging directly to educate the public or family. Tata also explained that Muhammadiyah is a unique organization with a range of social services including education and health that can help ensure children remain safe in their families and communities.
Actually, the role of Social Worker is still not equipped with some of the important components as a profession and also not properly functioned because as we all know the general public still questions about the profession of social worker. Therefore, there must be a strategy to strengthen the profession, namely by holding certifications for Social Workers and the recognition of the competence of Social Workers. Thus, there should be cooperation between IPPSI, IPSPI, and Social Ministry of the RI in building a system of social work.
Astrid Gonzaga Dionisio also agreed with Tata Sudrajad. In her speech, she revealed that the social worker profession promotes social change, solving problems in the relationship among human beings and empowering communities to improve well-being using behavioral theories of society and social systems. "Social workers intervene at the point where people interact with their environment. The principles of human rights and social justice are the foundation on the social worker," he added.