National Seminar: UNUJA and IGRA Probolinggo Regency Collaborate to Realize a Drama-Free School

Paiton, Probolinggo – Sunday, October 13, 2024, marked a historic day for early childhood education in Probolinggo Regency. The Graduate Program of Universitas Nurul Jadid (UNUJA) in collaboration with the Raudlatul Athfal Teacher Association (IGRA) of Probolinggo Regency successfully held a National Seminar titled "DRAMA-FREE SCHOOL: Preventing Conflict and Bullying through Emotional and Social Education." Held in Auditorium I of Pondok Pesantren Nurul Jadid, the seminar was attended by over 800 Raudlatul Athfal (RA) teachers from across Probolinggo Regency, who were eager to seek new inspiration to create a friendly and inclusive school environment for children.

This seminar is a follow-up to the strategic partnership between the UNUJA Graduate Program and IGRA Probolinggo Regency, with the main goal of creating an educational environment free from conflict and bullying. A festive atmosphere was felt from the beginning of the event when important figures from various institutions were present and delivered inspiring remarks, emphasizing the vital role of teachers in building children's character.

The Head of the Probolinggo Regency Ministry of Religion, Samsur, S.Ag, M.Pd.I., in his opening remarks, stressed that emotional and social education is key to creating a safe, enjoyable, and conflict-free school. “Teachers must be at the forefront of instilling emotional and social values in children from an early age to create a more empathetic and responsible generation,” he stated enthusiastically.

Not to be outdone, Yuli Herindaryati, S.Pd., the Chairperson of the Raudlatul Athfal Teacher Association (IGRA) of Probolinggo Regency, expressed her pride in the enthusiasm of the RA teachers present at the seminar. She emphasized that emotional education is not only essential for preventing bullying but also serves as a foundation for educating children to become individuals with strong character. “Through this seminar, we want to equip teachers to be more sensitive to the emotional dynamics of children in the classroom,” she said.

From Universitas Nurul Jadid, Dr. H. Hasan Baharun, M.Pd., Vice Rector III of UNUJA, warmly welcomed the collaboration between UNUJA and IGRA. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of this collaboration as part of the educational institution's responsibility to create a real impact on society. “We believe that emotional and social education will not only reduce conflicts in schools but also shape a more adaptive and competitive future generation,” he stated.

The presence of Kiai Abdurrahman Wafi, a representative from the Supervisory Board of Pondok Pesantren Nurul Jadid, further emphasized the importance of this collaboration. He stressed that education based on moral and social values must be the primary foundation in shaping a superior generation. Additionally, all madrasah supervisors from the Ministry of Religion in Probolinggo Regency were present, fully supporting the innovative programs presented.

Dr. Eny Nur Aisyah, M.Pd., the keynote speaker from the Department of Early Childhood Education at Malang State University, captivated participants with her inspiring presentation on "Drama-Free Schools." She outlined innovative ways to manage conflict and bullying through emotional and social approaches, providing real case studies faced by teachers in the field. The seminar participants appeared enthusiastic and inspired by the new insights shared, eager to implement these strategies in their school environments.

“I felt enlightened by the material presented, especially how we as teachers must better understand the emotional needs of children to prevent conflicts in the classroom,” said one seminar participant enthusiastically.

This national seminar not only provided new insights for participants but also strengthened the collaborative relationship between the UNUJA Graduate Program and IGRA Probolinggo Regency. This collaboration is expected to continue with other innovative educational programs that can significantly impact the improvement of educational quality in the region.

The Graduate Program of Universitas Nurul Jadid hopes that this activity can be the beginning of ongoing efforts to create a more positive educational environment, free from conflict, and supportive of children's emotional and social development for the future of the next generation.

With a spirit of collaboration and dedication to creating more harmonious schools, this seminar successfully provided inspiration and concrete steps for early childhood education in Probolinggo Regency.