Holiday is only a name: Liburan hanya nama

Saturdays and Sundays are typically considered days off for civil servants in Indonesia. However, these days are often not truly days off. In fact, they can be even busier than weekdays. During these days, I usually work on reports, log my daily activities on the TRK application, prepare PowerPoint presentations and materials for mentoring, and compile reports on tasks completed from Monday to Friday. In short, the term 'day off' is somewhat of a misnomer, as work continues uninterrupted. Below is a summary of the tasks I completed on Sunday, a day officially considered a holiday.

Initially, I issued an official notification to the Principal of SMA PGRI Cipeundeuy, Bandung Barat, West Java, informing them that I would be conducting certificate verification on Monday, May 19, 2025, as per the revised schedule I had previously submitted on Friday, May 16, 2025. The schedule change was necessitated by an unexpected meeting with the Private Education Consultative Body, where I had to represent my superior, the Head of the Education Office Branch. The previously agreed-upon schedule had to be cancelled, which posed a challenge for me. As a subordinate in my country, I am expected to comply with my superior's requests, and failure to do so may result in repercussions and be perceived as insubordination. This situation can lead to complications, particularly if the school has made arrangements for my visit, including ordering food. The sudden cancellation would render these preparations futile. In my opinion, cancelling plans under the guise of adhering to hierarchical obligations is unprofessional. Returning to the topic, the notification I sent via WhatsApp covered two main points: firstly, the revised schedule for the certificate verification visit, and secondly, the opportunity to provide a workshop on qualitative analysis of test items and the development of PISA-style literacy questions during the visit. As a school supervisor, I believe that visiting schools presents an opportunity to provide valuable support to teachers through workshops, thereby maximizing the impact of my visits.

In the Indonesian context, it is common and acceptable to use WhatsApp for formal notifications. This method is often preferred over traditional letter-based communication, which can be lengthy and prone to misinterpretation. Given the principals I work with may have varying levels of literacy and ability to process complex written information, using WhatsApp allows me to convey essential information in a concise and straightforward manner, thereby minimizing potential confusion and ensuring effective communication. 

Secondly, regarding the completion of the TRK application. Initially, I am required to verify the work reports of school principals working in government schools. There are three school principals whose reports I need to verify every Saturday or Sunday. However, there is an anomaly in the TRK application, as the principals that appear for verification are not the ones I am supposed to supervise. The system seems to have not been updated, and the principals I am supposed to verify are those from SMAN 1 Sukangara, SMAN 1 Cipatat, and SMAN 1 Kadupandak. Unfortunately, I have limited control over the TRK application. Despite the mismatch in the principals' identities, I proceed with the verification process to avoid disadvantaging the principals. Therefore, I complete the application, prioritizing the application's technical compliance (indicated by a green status), rather than the accuracy of the content. The primary concern is to ensure the application is processed, regardless of the discrepancies

Verify wrong principals

Furthermore, I am tasked with completing daily activity reports, a process that I find somewhat burdensome. Each day, I am required to log my work hours, which amount to 7.5 hours per day, over a span of 5 working days. The reporting format necessitates breaking down my work hours into minute increments, such as 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes, and 180 minutes. To accurately reflect my 7.5 hours of work, I must submit 16 separate reports, which can be a tedious and time-consuming task. Compliance with this application is mandatory, as it is tied to the disbursement of my work allowance

Daily Activities report app

Thirdly, I prepared materials for a training session for guidance and counseling teachers. However, the task became challenging due to the impending change in the curriculum. In Indonesia, it is well-known that a change in the Minister of Education often leads to a change in the curriculum, which can be confusing for schools and educators like myself. I planned to provide explanations on guidance and counseling for students based on the previous minister's regulations. Nevertheless, I am concerned that the current minister might alter these regulations. What's amusing is that the new minister seems to have an aversion to the policies of the previous minister. Strangely, the new minister has not promptly issued guidelines on what can be continued, what needs to be changed, and what the replacements should be. With only two months left before the new academic year begins, we are uncertain about what to do, as the new minister has not provided clear policy directions on what changes will be made and how they will be implemented.