T

he Education and Culture Ministry is expected to introduce the streamlined national curriculum in five big cities across the country in hopes of getting feedback from academicians and education experts.

Education and Culture Minister Mohammad Nuh said that the new curriculum would be introduced in Jakarta, Medan (North Sumatra), Yogyakarta, Denpasar (Bali) and Makassar (South Sulawesi) during a three-week road show starting Thursday.

Lawmaker Reni Marlinawati Amin from Commission X overseeing education and youth affairs, however, said the road show was unnecessary.

“They don’t need to organize a road show. I think they have received enough input and criticism from what has been reported by the media. I hope the road show will not be a mere ceremonial event,” she told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The road show has been scheduled following the ministry and the House’s Commission X agreement on the new curriculum that will focus on character building. According to the House’s Commission X chairman Agus Hermanto, the new curriculum will consist mostly of civics education, history and religion.

It has widely been reported that the new curriculum, a streamlined version of the existing one, would weaken the nation’s competitiveness.

Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali has proposed to encourage students to spend their holidays, particularly during semester break, to learn more about their individual faiths.

Educators and education activists criticized the scrapping of three subjects — English, natural and social sciences — from the curriculum, saying it would degrade Indonesian students’ competitiveness in the global arena.

The ministry defended the curriculum, claiming that it would support the character building of students. Under the new curriculum, students would only study religion, civics, Indonesian, sports, math, and arts and culture.

Child psychologist Seto Mulyadi appreciated the road show plan, although admitting that the observation in five cities did not represent the needs of all Indonesian children.

Seto said he hoped that the ministry would use the students’ suggestions as the main consideration in drafting the curriculum.

“Children are the main stakeholders on this issue. The curriculum should be enjoyed by them, not trigger stress,” he told the Post in a
telephone interview.

Seto added that the ministry should involve related parties in the road show, to introduce the new curriculum, particularly teachers.

“They need to consider the readiness of teachers to practice the curriculum. We have to be honest. If they are not ready, don’t rush to implement the curriculum,” he said.

The ministry said that it would work together with schools, teachers, education practitioners, the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI), as well as the House of Representatives members in the road show.

However, it remains unclear whether the ministry will live up to its promise or not.

When asked about lawmakers’ participation in the road show, Reni said “I haven’t received an invitation from the ministry.”

Separately, Ucok Sky Khadafi from the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA) said that the ministry had been spending an unreasonable amount of money in drafting the curriculum. (yps)