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Lessons still need to be learned
Education in MindEducation, always a popular and sometimes heated topic of discussion in Indonesia, is of particular relevance today with the celebration of National Education Day, which this year is on the theme, âEnhancing quality and equal access to educationâ
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strong>Education in Mind
Education, always a popular and sometimes heated topic of discussion in Indonesia, is of particular relevance today with the celebration of National Education Day, which this year is on the theme, 'Enhancing quality and equal access to education'. May 2 is a time to honor the brave struggle to provide education in the past, and also evaluate contemporary efforts to elevate the education system to a suitable standard for today's generation. The Jakarta Post's Supplement section examines the efficacy of government-sponsored programs on education, and looks at the important role the private sector plays in enhancing Indonesian human resources. We also share people's views on the state of national education and how it can be improved.
Angelina
Hotel marketing communication manager
In my opinion, the current education system is good enough, but it can be better. There are many tourism academies that oblige the students to do internships as part of their graduation requirement. This really helps in producing skilled and qualified human resources because the students have knowledge about the real situation and condition in the tourism industry.
My suggestion to Indonesian tourism academies is to strengthen complementary relationships with other stakeholders in the tourism industry. For example, tourism academies can invite people working in the tourism industry to give training to students for a certain period of time.
Good communication between the academies and tourism stakeholders should also be in place to ensure that academies can be the bridge for the alumni to get jobs and, in turn, for tourism stakeholders to obtain quality human resources.
Nirwono Joga
Specialist in architectural and environmental issues
The celebration of National Education Day is to remind and reaffirm the essence of education ' that is, education is the right of all Indonesian citizens, with no exceptions. The state is obliged to provide adequate educational facilities for every Indonesian citizen.
To enhance the quality of education in Indonesia, I think the education and culture ministry must improve the welfare of teachers, provide an adequate amount of funds for research and science development, develop a knowledge-based curriculum that is adjusted to the local wisdom and conditions that are so diverse and also award scholarships to high-achieving students and those from low-income families.
With awareness of the emerging phenomena of global warming, climate change and environmental degradation, it is high time for the government, to direct the curriculum to educational endeavors, development of science and also building social awareness, from kindergartens to university level, on the basis of sustainable economic, ecological and social development. This is to anticipate, adapt and mitigate climate change so that Indonesia will have a new generation with environmental conservation in mind.
Ignatius Purnoto
Mathematics teacher at Global Mandiri school
I think the celebration of this year's National Education Day serves as a medium to recharge and boost our spirit to teach, and also educate students and prepare them for facing global competition. Students may see the celebration as nothing more than a routine ceremonial activity, but the day is a time to reflect and introspect to find the meaning behind it.
I see that many Indonesian students attend class as something that is a burden instead of fun. They not only have to deal with many subjects but also many school assignments, and homework from different teachers. Imagine, students have to do homework related to three different subjects every day. I think it is due to a lack of coordination between teachers and principals.
I think it is time for schools to adopt a fun-active learning approach, allowing students to learn with fun; their curiosity is fostered because they feel happy and they will feel that learning is a need.
And I think the government should improve the welfare of teachers so that teaching is considered a profession with good prospects. Many today go into teaching just to find an 'escape' and, consequently, they do not perform their duties wholeheartedly. Ideally, teachers should educate with full dedication.
Rinda Triwijayanti
Management studies student, Pancasila University
National Education Day is when all people across Indonesia are supposed to have a decent education up to the highest possible levels.
But education in Indonesia is in a sad state. I think that one of the biggest problems is the lack of transparency and the inability of the government to provide financial aid to impoverished students.
In the ongoing national exam scandal, we witnessed the Education Ministry giving out an insufficient number of exams to schools, which resulted in schools being forced to photocopy exam sheets and disruption in exam schedules.
The way school operational funds (BOS) are being handled is problematic as well. The distribution of funds doesn't get reported, and sometimes the funds go missing. As a result, no work gets done in maintaining the quality of school buildings, nor is there any money given to help with students themselves. I believe there should be internal audits.
My hope is that our education system can become more efficient and transparent. Our education officials must also not overlook poor people or those living in more remote areas of our country.
Budi Widodo
Junior High School Principal, PSKD Mandiri
The commemoration of our national education journey is of great importance, yet this is only the first lesson that we must learn. Moreover, National Education Day also pushes us to reanalyze the value and purpose of education. As educators we have given our careers so that the unrealized potential in others can be unleashed. . . . National Education Day brings to the forefront this very message of hope in others that we all should applaud. For this reason, its value and purpose cannot be overstated.
The journey of education in Indonesia has made great strides forward within our lifetime. . . . Within our classroom curriculums we now find the ability to develop a school character while having the flexibility to meet individual student needs. As a result, this empowerment has brought innovation and dramatic change to teaching methodologies and subject selection. Moreover, teachers and students alike become engaged in their own educational value.
As we all push forward in the pursuit of wisdom, we are sadly pulled back into the race for higher and higher national exam scores. Moreover, to play this dangerous game, we stand on a playing field that favors those with the most resources or those who sacrifice their sense of right to gain national exam glory. Simply look at the gap in results: Jakarta always leading and other regions losing their way.
The system that encourages diversity, creativity and innovation in a final step only rewards test-taking skills. Therefore we lose our future entrepreneurs, artists and leaders to foreign universities, life or, even worse, without a future at home. Our character, our values, our education system have to embrace Indonesia's next generation, not condemn them with a test-taking final breath.
Yenny Sucipto
Research director of Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency
The condition of Indonesia's education system is in total mayhem as we can see from the curriculum and the national exam procedures. We also have yet to set a clear control system on the education budget.
The education sector already receives quite a high budget allocation. We need to ensure that the budget goes to the right places and is not being misused by certain people or political parties. Every year, the Supreme Audit Agency gives recommendations on the education budget, but the recommendations have yet to be fully implemented. In order to create transparency, we need to involve all stakeholders ; the government, legislators and the public.
