The Principal of MAN 1 Yogyakarta Participates in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Media and Information Literacy in Religious Schools with UNESCO

Solo (MAN 1 Yogya) — The Principal of MAN 1 Yogyakarta, Edi Triyanto, S.Ag., S.Pd., M.Pd., was one of three representatives from the Special Region of Yogyakarta selected to participate in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the theme “Strengthening Media and Information Literacy in Religious Schools.” This activity was held by the Solopos Institute (November 9, 2025) in collaboration with UNESCO Indonesia and the Central Java Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and took place at Griya Solopos, Adisucipto Street, Solo.

The FGD, attended by 35 educators from various regions, including Solo Raya, Semarang, Jember, and Bali, aimed to gather strategic input from stakeholders in religious education regarding strengthening Media and Information Literacy (LMI). The main focus of the discussion was developing strategies for integrating LMI into the curriculum and contextual, critical, and inclusive learning practices.

In the forum, Edi Triyanto presented a discussion titled “Strengthening Media and Information Literacy in Faith-Based Schools.” He emphasized that strengthening LMI must be done holistically, involving all school elements: teachers, students, and institutional policies. According to him, there are four main pillars that need to be strengthened:

• Integration of LMI into the Religious Education curriculum

• Improving teacher competency in dealing with the flow of digital information

• LMI-based student activities that foster critical thinking

• The role of school policies in supporting a healthy literacy ecosystem

“Faith-based schools have great potential in developing literate characters who are not only technologically savvy but also wise in filtering information. Media literacy is not just a technical skill, but also part of values ​​education,” said Edi Triyanto during the discussion session.

Meanwhile, Rini Yustiningsih, COO of Solopos Media Group, also highlighted the challenges of a fast-paced digital culture. “Nowadays, the world only lasts three seconds. When children scroll through TikTok or Instagram, only content that is interesting for three seconds stays on their screens. The challenge is, not all of that content is true or useful,” she said.

This FGD activity is a step towards strengthening the capacity of teachers and faith-based schools to face the dynamic digital era. Through collaboration across institutions and regions, it is hoped that relevant, adaptive literacy strategies will emerge, capable of developing a generation of critical and competitive learners. (dee)