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National education day: Enhancing nat’l education quality
Ashok Pal Singh (JP/Arief Suhardiman)How to enhance the quality of national education is one of the most frequently asked questions posed during annual National Education Day commemorations
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Ashok Pal Singh (JP/Arief Suhardiman)
How to enhance the quality of national education is one of the most frequently asked questions posed during annual National Education Day commemorations. Educators, including those from private schools, have a keen interest in sharing their views on this issue.
Ashok Pal Singh, the principal of the Gandhi Memorial Intercontinental School (GMIS), emphasized two points in respect to improving the quality of national education: being open to learning approaches and the importance of second language acquisition for students.
AP Singh said many approaches to learning were available, such as one from Finland, but the Education and Culture Ministry should integrate them with good input received from different parties before “bringing it to your national education system.”
“You cannot just copy and paste it,” he added following Kartini Day celebrations in the school’s auditorium recently.
In respect to a second language, he said, “Bahasa Indonesia is, certainly, the first language but they [children] must have a second language right from preschool. It is psychologically proven that children at 3 or grade 8 or 9 can learn two or three languages without effort,” he said.
With English being a global language, English should be taught from the basic level or preschool, according to AP Singh. “But it is up to the government to decide whether two or three languages are to be taught, languages that will benefit students,” he said.
In celebrating the 139th anniversary of Kartini’s birth, GMIS students from different grades appeared on the stage to sing and dance, presenting traditional and contemporary songs from different countries. Artist Dewi Sandra, alumna of GMIS, also took part in celebrating the event, showcasing her singing talent and epitomizing GMIS’s successful alumni. She shared positive things that she learned through stage: keeping smile and be energetic and enthusiastic.
Finding qualities and skills of students are the reasons behind encouraging students to conduct activities on stage, according to AP Singh. “We believe that student education should be balanced. Fifty percent of education is given in the classroom and another 50 percent is outside the classroom,” he said.
The school also handed over donations collected by students, teachers, parents and management. Donations were presented to Pesantren Nurul Imam, Bogor, Pesantren Rawanila, Jakkarta, Yayasan Anak Kanker Indonesia and Yayasan Binangkit, Sukabumi. “We instill the value of caring in the students through the program,” AP Singh said.
