British council, more than just a library<\/p>\n
By Pandaya<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Neil Kemp has kissed the Jakarta British Council
\ngoodbye but he knows he'll be back to Indonesia, where he has
\nlearned values and knowledge that have changed his cultural
\nconcepts.<\/p>\n
Anyone who has ever lived in Indonesia will want to return
\nafter they have gone home, says Kemp, whose list of general
\ninterests include \"walking and living in warm countries\".<\/p>\n
In a recent interview with The Jakarta Post, Kemp, who was
\naccompanied by his successor, Richard P. Phillips, said he was
\nlucky to be posted in Jakarta when he was, as he could witness
\ndemocracy eventually finding its way in the country after more
\nthan three decades of authoritarian rule under former president
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
The changes took place so rapidly. Kemp can count himself as
\none of the few British Council officials to have worked under
\nthree Indonesian presidents.<\/p>\n
Kemp, 55, a chemist by training, was lucky to have the chance
\nin the course of his five-year term to not only work closely with
\nthe government and NGOs, but also see a lot of history in the
\nmaking.<\/p>\n
His most memorable experience was the final day of the 1999
\nelection campaign, when thousands of Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDIP) supporters turned the Hotel Indonesia traffic
\ncircle into a sea of red, the party's color.<\/p>\n
It was a powerful statement by people who had long been
\noppressed, he said.<\/p>\n
Among the many activities under his charge, Kemp found the
\neducational projects between Britain and Indonesia the most
\ninteresting.<\/p>\n
He said education should be one of the highest priorities on
\nthe Indonesian government's agenda and stressed the need to
\nreform the higher education system.<\/p>\n
Kemp pointed out that as most of the education budget goes on
\nteachers' salaries, Indonesia had little left to finance
\neducational reforms.<\/p>\n
\"That's where we are sympathetic,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The British Council, which started in Bandung in 1948, has
\nplayed a pivotal role in cooperation between Indonesia and
\nEngland in the fields of education, culture, governance and human
\nrights.<\/p>\n
Over the past few years, it has been aggressively marketing
\nBritish schools to Indonesian students and professionals,
\nrealizing that Briton lags far behind the United States and
\nAustralia in attracting Indonesian students.<\/p>\n
According to the council's statistics, in 1997 there were
\nsome 38,000 Indonesians studying abroad, of which only 2,500 were
\nin the UK.<\/p>\n
In his book Becaks, Blackboards and Beyond, Kemp likens the
\nBritish Council to a \"marriage broker\": it introduces two parties
\nand assists them during a period of courtship. Once the parties
\nhave established a united goal, they go in to a contract akin to
\n\"marriage\".<\/p>\n
\"The British Council then steps back and watches the happy
\ncouple build up a lasting partnership,\" the book says.<\/p>\n
Among educated urban dwellers, the British Council is well-
\nknown for its library and as a good place to occasionally see
\nquality British films and art.<\/p>\n
The dragging economic crisis has boosted the council's library
\nmembership as people's ability to buy English-language books has
\ndecreased.<\/p>\n
In 1997 when the crisis started, membership stood at 8,627. In
\n1998, the number jumped to 9,527.<\/p>\n
\"The thirst for knowledge was evident on the first day the
\n(Jakarta) library opened after the May 1998 riots. About 650
\npeople flocked to it, double the daily average,\" Kemp noted.<\/p>\n
He plans to continue with his commitment to education. Back
\nhome in Britain, he will begin a new senior management job in the
\neducation program at the British Council headquarters.<\/p>\n
Kemp wrote Becaks, Blackboards and Beyond in conjunction with
\nthe council's 50th anniversary in Indonesia. Edited by John
\nAglionby, the book summarizes the history of the council's
\nIndonesian office and highlights its activities.<\/p>\n
\"This is one of my best achievement if you want to know,\" he
\nsaid laughing, handing over a freshly autographed copy.<\/p>\n
The council's new boss in Jakarta, 50-year-old Richard
\nPhillips -- who is also a chemist by training -- shares Kemp's
\npassion for educational programs.<\/p>\n
Phillips is determined to explore more areas where the council
\ncan be of service as well as continuing the good work of his
\npredecessors, including cooperating with the education ministry,
\nwhose office is located just across the street.<\/p>\n
Good luck, Mister.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/british-council-more-than-just-a-library-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }