Gamifying Literacy: How UMBY Lecturers Help Migrant Children in Malaysia Master Reading and Math
Education is often hailed as the great equalizer, but for the children of Indonesian Migrant Workers (Pekerja Migran Indonesia or PMI) living in Malaysia, accessing basic education can be an uphill battle. Due to legal, financial, and administrative hurdles, many of these children are unable to attend formal schools. Instead, they rely on informal community learning centers, known as Sanggar Bimbingan, which are often under-resourced. Recognizing this critical gap, a team of dedicated lecturers from Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta (UMBY) stepped up to make a difference. Backed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi, Sains, dan Teknologi), these educators traveled to Malaysia to implement an innovative learning program. Their mission? To teach young children the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic (locally known as "Calistung") using interactive, play-based methods. Under the banner of Lewat Game Edukatif...