| Abstrakt: |
Learning Activity Center (LAC), the so-called Sanggar Kegiatan Belajar, is the leading sector of local as well as central government technical implementer unit in providing programs to empower and provide non formal education for the community under the district education affairs. The purpose of this study is to assess how much the community accepts the presence of LAC, what roles LAC plays in the community empowerment, and how LAC gains legitimacy either from the local/district government or stakeholders as non-formal education unit. This study uses a qualitative approach employing case study research. The results of the study illustrate that the acceptance of the community towards LAC are indicated by the community acceptance towards the carrying out programs, and the accordance of implementation of LAC's programs with the needs of customers to enter the field of work. The roles of LAC as non-formal education unit are bridging the institution and the stakeholders by integrating in policy making, mapping community potential, planning pro-people collective policies, motivating community participation in the carried-out programs, and jointly monitoring and evaluating either ongoing or completed programs. The conclusions to this study are (1) to maintain community's acceptance of the learning activity centre program is manifested in two main aspects, namely, (a) community recognition of the LAC's program, and (b) implementation of the program at the LAC; (2) there are five main roles of LAC as non-formal education units in the community: (a) integration of policy makers, (b) community potential mapping, (c) collective policy, (d) community participation, and (e) program monitoring and evaluation; and (3) in acquiring the legitimacy as well as acceptance both from the stake holders and the community, Purwokerto LAC had been doing several activities: (a) institutional and programs recognition, (b) protecting the community, (c) building informal relationship, and (d) promotion through mass media. These four elements of obtaining legitimacy are carried out simultaneously one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
