KUPANG – For young children, playing is not merely an enjoyable activity but also part of the learning process. Therefore, an environment and facilities that support play activities are among the important needs in schools. This is what UT Kupang addressed through its Community Service (PkM) program at TKK Harapan Negeri III in Kota Kupang.
The mentoring program, which has been underway since March 2026, entered its monitoring stage on Wednesday (September 16, 2026). The monitoring was conducted online with the UT Monitoring Team, led by the Vice Dean for Student Affairs, Learning Services, and Cooperation of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at UT, Dr. Mukti Amini, M.Pd.
Chair of the UT Kupang PkM Team, Junus Jechial Beliu, S.Sos., M.Si., said the mentoring program was designed based on needs identified at the school. The process began with a needs assessment, followed by school administration training and training on making Educational Play Equipment (EPE).
“This monitoring is conducted to see the extent to which the training results have been implemented by the participants and provided benefits to the school,” Junus explained during his presentation.
In addition to providing training, UT Kupang also supported the school by providing several EPE items to support learning activities. The facility support also included outdoor play equipment in the form of a slide and swings.
The facilities are expected to help create a learning environment that better supports the needs of young children, whose learning process cannot be separated from play activities. Thus, strengthening the school’s capacity goes hand in hand with providing facilities that can be directly utilized by students.
Head of TKK Harapan Negeri III in Kota Kupang, Emi Margaritha Lassa, S.Th., expressed her appreciation for the mentoring and attention provided by UT Kupang. According to her, the involvement of the higher education institution motivated the school to continue improving educational services for children.
“We are very grateful to UT Kupang. The presence of UT Kupang is both a motivation and proof that we are not alone in serving the children of the nation,” Emi said.
She said the support provided had begun to have an impact on student activities. According to Emi, the benefits of the support could already be seen from the students’ responses. She observed that the children showed greater enthusiasm for coming to school after more adequate learning and play facilities became available.
For UT Kupang, the program is part of the university’s contribution to strengthening education in Kota Kupang, particularly at the early childhood education level. Collaboration with educational institutions also provides an opportunity to identify schools’ needs while ensuring that the support provided is in line with conditions on the ground.
Following the monitoring stage, the UT Kupang PkM Team hopes that the training and facilities provided can continue to be utilized and maintained by the school. For young children, a swing, slide, or educational play equipment is not merely a facility. It is in the play area that they can move, interact, explore, and experience learning in ways that are close to their world.
This effort also reflects a commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on Quality Education, particularly in promoting an educational environment that supports children’s learning processes from an early age.
