Long Ikis, September 13, 2026 — A team from Regional Language Center in East Kalimantan conducted a monitoring visit on the revitalization of the Paser language in Long Ikis District, Paser Regency, and Babulu District, North Penajam Paser Regency, on September 9–10, 2026. In Long Ikis, the team visited two schools, namely SMP Negeri 1 Long Ikis and SD Negeri 006 Long Ikis.
At SMP Negeri 1 Long Ikis, the team was welcomed by Principal Saharudin. Assisted by lead teachers Evi, Ika, and Ilawati, Saharudin has been implementing Paser language revitalization efforts since 2022. Since then, the school has actively participated in the FTBI festival, competing from the district to the provincial level, although it has not yet won first place. During the visit, the team assessed the school’s readiness for the FTBI selection process by observing students’ speech and poetry performances in the Paser language. Saharudin expressed hope that regulations on local content teachers for the Paser language would soon be established to ensure the language’s continued preservation.
The team also visited SDN 006 Long Ikis, where they were welcomed by three school principals, namely Nani Fajriani (SDN 006), Siti Komariah (SDN 011), and Ustadzah Ni’mah (SD IT Baitul Izzah). Lead teachers Anita and Prilliyanti were also present. During the visit, students preparing for the district level FTBI selection showcased the results of their training. Their performances reflected the hard work of the lead teachers and the students’ own dedication to delivering their best.
In Babulu District, North Penajam Paser Regency, the team attended the FTBI selection event for Cluster 3, which comprises SDN 007, SDN 008, SDN 012, and SDN 016. The team was welcomed by Dian Ibrahim Jamal, Acting Head of the Student Affairs Section at Agency of Education, Youth, and Sports of North Penajam Paser, Samnor Janah, Regional Supervisor for Babulu, the Principal of SDN 008 Babulu, and lead teachers Teti and Aloh. During the visit, the team had the opportunity to award prizes to the elementary school level winners from Cluster 3. Yudianti Herawati, Leader of the Language and Literature Preservation Team at Regional Language Center in East Kalimantan, praised the selection activities in Babulu’s Cluster 3. Yudianti stated that the event demonstrated the strong determination and commitment of educators in Babulu to preserve the Paser language. (am)
Translated by Muhammad Erwin Darma