September 20, 2025 | 09:13 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A total of 25 Indonesian middle school teachers participated in a media and information literacy (MIL) training organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in collaboration with the Indonesian Anti-Slander Society (Mafindo). The training took place on Friday and Saturday, September 19 and 20, 2025.
Mafindo Presidium Septiaji Eko Nugroho said the training aimed to provide teachers with the basic skills needed to use digital technology. This is useful for equipping teachers to educate students who use internet technology in their daily lives.
"(This training is) a way to strengthen teachers in preparing students to be competent individuals and to avoid the negative impacts of information technology," said Septiaji in a written statement on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
According to Septiaji, teachers need to have the skills to navigate digital information, especially in the current era, which heavily features artificial intelligence (AI) and the phenomenon of post-truth. Therefore, Septiaji said, UNESCO and Mafindo have developed modules on media and information literacy that can serve as a guide for teachers.
The 25 teachers from Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi) learned about strengthening freedom of expression, identifying hate speech in online media, and the ethics of using AI. Septiaji mentioned that the educators also had the opportunity to simulate insertion into the learning system.
At the same event, Ana Lomtadze, UNESCO Jakarta's Head of Communication and Information Unit, said that teachers play a strategic role in helping students use technology wisely. Despite offering many benefits, Ana reminded that the space of information technology also carries the risk of spreading disinformation and threats to personal data protection.
She then quoted some research results showing the extent of young people's dependence on social media. One of them, according to a 2024 UNESCO survey, reported that as many as 80 percent of young people actively use AI to support their education.
"As technology becomes more advanced, it becomes increasingly difficult for us to know its impact. Hence, it is important for young people to understand how algorithms shape their online experiences," Ana said.
Acting Chairperson of the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO, Ananto Kusuma Seta, added that media literacy plays a central role in one branch of AI learning, which is deep learning. He hopes that teachers who have received training will not only pass on knowledge but also shape students' characters that prioritize human values.
"The essence is how children can use digital information for mindful, meaningful, and joyful learning. They must be able to filter information from various credible sources," said Ananto.
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