Devin, the big dreamer from southern Flores

Unlike other boys in school, Devin is more introverted, but he always comes to school ready and eager to learn. He wears his uniform neatly every morning and walks with passion to the one and only primary school, SDK Napungliti.

“I want to be a pilot when I grow up,” he said.

Living near the shore of southern Flores Island, Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara province, Devin rarely sees an airplane flying above his home. But once he saw a plane, Devin set his goal to become a pilot.

He studied hard and he usually got good scores in every school subject. This achievement led him to represent SDK Napungliti in Sikka Regency.

My school is different from last year. Teachers begin to teach us in a friendly way. They listen to our opinion.

“I got the first rank among other participants. Then I represented Sikka regency in province level’s Science Olympiad. I got second place in provincial level,” told Devin, proud of his achievements last year.

The sixth grader said that his parents and the school played an important role in his study activities. His scores improved after the teachers at the school changed their way of teaching students.

“I’m now happier to study at school. My school is different from last year. Teachers begin to teach us in a friendly way. They listen to our opinion. Also, they often ask us to study outside of class,” Devin shared.

Through contextual education applied in school, World Vision Indonesia contributed in improving student’s achievement and character in a coordination with teachers and school committee.

Spirit Kulababong, the name of the contextual education approach, trained teachers to use new learning and teaching methods to present the materials in a fun way such as using traditional games.

First introduced in 2011, now SDK Napungliti has improved a lot especially in student’s achievement.

“This contextual education has encouraged us to be more creative and close to children. We teach students outside of class without leaving the subject material,” Agustinus, 63, the former headmaster telling advantage of contextual education implemented by World Vision.

Hermin, 48, Devin’s mother also admitted that this contextual education has brought parents to contribute more at school.

“Now, parents are involved in any school activity. I can monitor Devin’s development at school,” she stated.

Devin is just one of the students to benefit from contextual education.