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UNESCO empowers Indonesian teachers to tackle harmful content online
Jakarta, Indonesia - UNESCO, in partnership with the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, organized a Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Workshop on 12-13 August 2024. The training targeted 100 teachers from UNESCO's Associated Schools Network (ASPNet) in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) regions. dedicated.
With the use of digital technologies, students are increasingly confronted with harmful content online, including mis/disinformation and hate speech. However, teachers worldwide lack the resources to help students better understand and mitigate the risks of such content. The two-day workshop in Jakarta equipped junior and senior high school teachers with the knowledge and skills for nurturing critical thinking and responsible media habits among students. The agenda included practical tips and good practices for combatting hate speech, addressing disinformation, and safeguarding data privacy. Key sessions were led by experts from the Indonesian Anti-Defamation Society (Mafindo), digital literacy activists from Jaringan Pegiat Literasi Digital (Japelidi), and the members of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).
The essence of media and information literacy is to empower people to make informed decisions about their participation in building a more peaceful, just, and democratic world. While digital technologies have empowered many, they’ve also given rise to harmful content like disinformation and hate speech. UNESCO supports integrating media and information literacy into national education policies and curricula.
Executive Chair of the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO Dr. Itje Chodidjah emphasized the strategic role of teachers in guiding students to understand, evaluate, and be ethical in the use of digital tools.
Innovation and creativity are crucial in education in the Merdeka Curriculum, which emphasizes flexible, student-centered learning. Integrating media and information literacy (MIL) helps students to think critically. Teachers, as facilitators, guide students to become independent learners. This training provides educators with essential MIL concepts and strategies to combat hate speech and disinformation.
I am very happy to participate in the media and information literacy training because I learned a lot in a short time about topics such as fact-checking and handling ‘hoaxes’. I will certainly share my knowledge with students, but it is important that I first improve my own media literacy skills first.
This initiative underscored UNESCO's commitment to promoting peace, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable development through education. By empowering teachers, UNESCO aimed to create a ripple effect, nurturing informed and responsible citizens capable of critically engaging with media and information. Moving forward, UNESCO will continue working with the National Commission and the Ministry of Education to replicate these trainings and integrate MIL in teacher’s training.
