Tenggarong, August 6, 2026 — A monitoring team under Regional Language Center in East Kalimantan conducted a monitoring and evaluation visit for the Regional Language Revitalization Program, specifically targeting the Kutai Malay language, in Tenggarong and Loa Kulu Districts, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, on August 6, 2026. The team visited two schools, namely SDN 003 Tenggarong and SMP Negeri 10 Loa Kulu.
Upon arriving at SDN 003 Tenggarong, the team was welcomed by the principal, the teaching staff, the students, the Regional Coordinator of Agency of Education and Culture of Kutai Kartanegara, and school supervisors. According to Kurnia Astuti, Principal of SDN 003 Tenggarong, the school has already implemented Kutai Malay language instruction as part of its local curriculum. In preparation for FTBI festival selection process, Kurnia, assisted by her fellow teachers, has been training students for the regency level of Kutai Malay language competition. Student performances, including storytelling, poetry reading, tingkilan (traditional music and dance), and tarsul (traditional poetic recitation), demonstrated that the children are talented and ready to compete. They simply require further refinement, particularly in stage presence. Since 2023, SDN 003 Tenggarong has participated in a series of Regional Language Revitalization events and has even sent students to compete at the provincial level. The school community remains highly enthusiastic and committed to preserving their local language.
The next monitoring visit took place at SMP Negeri 10 Loa Kulu. The atmosphere at this school was equally lively, as the entire students had gathered to witness the selection process for the Kutai Malay language competition, which would determine representatives at the regency level. Isnaini F. Ulla, Principal of SMP Negeri 10 Loa Kulu, extended a warm welcome and expressed her delight at the visit from Regional Language Center in East Kalimantan monitoring team. The team observed several student performances firsthand, including speeches and stand-up comedy. During the visit, the team also assessed the overall program implementation and encouraged all students to take pride and pleasure in preserving their local language.
Efforts to promote the Kutai Malay language in Tenggarong and Loa Kulu Districts of Kutai Kartanegara Regency have progressed successfully. This is evidenced by the integration of Kutai Malay language instruction into the local curriculum at both elementary and junior high school levels. Given the enthusiasm shown by teachers and students alike in using this local language, it is hoped that Kutai Malay will continue to flourish and that its speaker base will grow, thereby reducing the risk of extinction. (nm)
Translated by Muhammad Erwin Darma