A Jakarta workshop has urged primary teachers to look beyond classroom behaviour, identify pupils’ individual needs and work with counsellors before deciding how best to support them.
Teachers in primary schools should look beyond what a child does in the classroom and first try to understand who the child is, according to child specialist and special-needs consultant Julita Lea Lestari. Speaking at a teacher workshop in East Jakarta on 22 September 2026, Lestari said behaviours such as difficulty following instructions, slow task completion, leaving a seat repeatedly or avoiding certain activities may signal that a pupil needs a different approach rather than a quick label.
The workshop, held at SMA Negeri 58 Jakarta and attended by around 50 primary school teachers from East Jakarta district 2, was framed around early detection with empathy. Organisers said the aim was to help teachers adopt a “See the Child” approach, encouraging them to identify each pupil’s strengths, needs and learning style before deciding how to teach or support them.
The session also underlined that classroom teachers and guidance counsellors have different responsibilities, but need to work together. Speaker RR. Baiduri NW, a counsellor for children, adolescents and families, drew on school-based experience to illustrate how teachers can respond more effectively when children show different needs or behaviour patterns.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
