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Drinking from a deep well called Obama

The removal of the young Barack Obama statue from Menteng Park just a few weeks before the US president's arrival in Indonesia not only overshadows the friendly atmosphere of the visit but, for those dedicated to the development of future leaders, threatens to reduce the opportunity for young people to be inspired by one of the world's most-admired leaders

Nenny Soemawinata (The Jakarta Post)
Thu, February 25, 2010

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Drinking from a deep well called Obama

T

he removal of the young Barack Obama statue from Menteng Park just a few weeks before the US president's arrival in Indonesia not only overshadows the friendly atmosphere of the visit but, for those dedicated to the development of future leaders, threatens to reduce the opportunity for young people to be inspired by one of the world's most-admired leaders.

Of course, Indonesia has its share of national heroes and role models for our young generation. Yet learning from a great international leader's life and struggle to reach an apparently impossible goal, serves a dual purpose: It simultaneously inspires in us the determination to fight for our dreams and broadens our global horizons.

Many expect President Obama's visit will have a positive impact on US - Indonesian relations, since the president spent some of his childhood in this country. Those who are concerned with the education of the country's future leaders, though, hope that young people and educators will be inspired by his struggle to reach the most senior office of the once racially segregated country.

Barack Obama captivated Americans with the promise of "Change We Need" - a promise that eventually propelled him into the White House. The idea of change implies a departure from habits that are leading us nowhere. In the education sector, while we all understand that education is vital to building vibrant economies and resilient democracies, many of us continue to understand "education" as only literacy through rote learning.

The greatest need of the developing world is not "education" in these terms but rather analytical, knowledgeable, responsible leadership. For many reasons, our traditional institutions of higher education have failed to deliver a pool of enlightened leaders who are intellectually, morally and ethically dedicated to the greater good of society.

Instead we see that authority, whether in the hands of one person or an elite group of individuals, carries with it a temptation to corruption that is frequently the source of failure. Attempts to curb the exploitation of systemic poverty and human rights abuses, will fail without a depth of responsible, knowledgeable leadership firmly entrenched within the communities of these countries.

To overcome corruption, leaders need the intellectual and moral strength to confront elitism and incompetence and survive the fight. President Obama's appeal for "Change We Need" should inspire us to make the necessary changes in our education system.

In the US it was education that propelled the country to a more egalitarian and prosperous society. The G.I. Bill famously opened up opportunities for millions of Americans, and their children to rise to the highest levels of leadership and productivity. The role of grants, loans and scholarships with federal, state and private support made meritocratic access to education a reality and gave the US the creative and intellectual depth to weather the challenges of the modern world.

Indonesia may not yet have sufficient funds to provide financial support to all qualified students, but to neglect the development of future leaders risks repeating the same leadership cycle typical of the developing world.

While it is a moral imperative to address the education needs of the population as a whole, I sincerely believe that this country, with its vast population and resources, needs to supplement these efforts with a parallel initiative to produce as many meritorious leaders as possible - as quickly as possible - to fast-track it toward reaching its full potential.

Combining the finite funds available from local governments, businesses and committed individuals opens up opportunities for top-performing students from economically disadvantaged families. To build a pool of capable and morally responsible leaders, these resources must be well managed and distributed in the form of scholarships and education financing facilities. Students must be able to pursue their education in institutions run to international standards.

Why dedicate these resources to the poor? The simplest answer is that resources are finite: Students from economically stable families can fund their own education.

However, it is also true that talent, academic potential and high moral caliber know no economic boundaries; by overlooking the potential of those students least able to develop themselves, we risk overlooking much of Indonesia's future leadership potential.

President Obama epitomizes success through methodology. His path to leadership was not through the "old boy" network or exclusive clubs of America, but through personal desire cultivated through access to educational opportunities based on merit. His journey to the White House was not through elite law firms or corporate offices, but through working selflessly to improve life among the disadvantaged. His is the achievement that comes from morality, tenacity and leadership.

The writer is the managing director of the Putera Sampoerna Foundation

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