Better education system: A key to success<\/p>\n
Pasca-Indonesia Pasca-Einstein: Esei-esei tentang Kebudayaan
\nIndonesia Abad ke-21 (Post Indonesia, Post Einstein, Essays on
\nIndonesian Culture for 21st Century); By Y.B. Mangunwijaya;
\nKanisius, Yogyakarta, 1999; 335 pages<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Y.B. Mangunwijaya was a Catholic priest and
\nnational figure who was concerned with poor people. He was known
\nas one who always struggled for the truth and who defended the
\npoor who were oppressed by those in power or who had to suffer
\nfor the sake of the interests of certain groups. Even though he
\nwas a Catholic priest he never brought up the issue of religion.
\nHe based his work on an understanding of universal humanity. His
\nrole in community development along the Code river in Yogyakarta
\nand in the defense of people who were forced to give up their
\nland to make way for the construction of Kedung Ombo dam in
\nCentral Java, proved his concerns.<\/p>\n
Romo (Father) Mangun - that's how he was fondly called - gave
\nhis life not only to the poor. He was also concerned with broader
\nissues, such as culture and the future of the nation. There was
\nan interesting issue left by Romo Mangun, who died in February
\nthis year. That is, how to prepare a qualified generation,
\nequipped to face the third millennium, as outlined in his book
\nPasca-Indonesia Pasca-Einstein: Esei-Esei tentang Kebudayaan
\nIndonesia Abad ke-21.<\/p>\n
Romo Mangun believed that qualified human resources of the
\nfuture nation would not come naturally. People must be taught
\nfrom scratch. And it is in the education system that the teaching
\nmust come. Why? Because education has a central place in
\npreparing the quality of human resources. But Romo Mangun tells
\nus that this would not work if we maintain the current education
\nsystem, which is based on a static way of thinking, monologue and
\nmemorizing. Such a system could only produce yes-men. Romo Mangun
\nsuggested that such a system should be abandoned. Education must
\nbe able to prepare men and women who have creative thinking, who
\nare innovative and explorative; not people who are good at
\nmemorizing and copying.<\/p>\n
The problem is how to establish people with such
\ncharacteristics. Another question is what things must be done to
\nthe schooling system so that such human resources can be
\nproduced? According to Mangunwijaya, there is no other way than
\ncreating a climate that is conducive to open dialog and democracy
\nin the teaching and learning process. Democracy guarantees the
\nhuman rights of every citizen, and similarly, such values must
\nalso be applied in education. Which means that we must create an
\neducation system which is fun and guarantees the freedom of
\nexpression and which acknowledges the identity of the students as
\nsubjects in the learning process. Therefore, teachers must change
\ntheir role, from preaching to activating the students; changing
\ntheir habit of punishing students to encouraging them; from
\nscolding them to praising them. They should not be the sole
\ndecision maker, but become a partner for the students.<\/p>\n
All of the above matters need serious attention, according to
\nRomo Mangun, because the function of education is not just to
\ndevelop the cognitive dimension, but also to develop the
\nindividuality of the students. So, education should not just make
\nstudents know many facts and figures. It should be able to
\nstimulate their thinking and reasoning, their creativity and
\ntheir feeling, so that they can produce something in accordance
\nwith their ability; and to ignite their social sensitivity and
\nmoral conscience. Such characteristics need to be created by the
\neducation system to face the third millennium.<\/p>\n
The book is one of 10 books published by Kanisius in
\nobservance of the 100th day of Romo Mangun's death. It contains
\n24 articles, categorized into two main groups: the character of
\nIndonesians in the 21st century and the impact of science and
\ntechnology on human life.<\/p>\n
Romo Mangun said that the development of science and
\ntechnology was not without negative impacts. And, he elaborated,
\nsuch impacts had the potential to destroy human life if they were
\nnot prevented. Therefore, he warned scientists and technocrats to
\nmaintain the basic essence of science and technology: that is to
\ndevelop human life, not the other way around. Why? Because human
\nvalues could not be separated from the essence of science and
\ntechnology.<\/p>\n
Two basic problems above still need to be addressed. Therefore
\nthe book is quite relevant. Whoever is concerned with the future
\nof the nation, whether it be politics, culture or education,
\nshould read this book.<\/p>\n
-- Kasdin Sihotang<\/p>\n
The reviewer is a lecturer at Atma Jaya University, Jakarta.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/better-education-system-a-key-to-success-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }