Changes called for in national school curricula<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Education expert J. Drost S.J. proposed
\nyesterday cutting junior high school curricula from 42 hours a
\nweek to 38 hours to help the nation's students face competition
\nin the globalization era.<\/p>\n
\"The curricula is too intense for students,\" Drost said in a
\nseminar called to review the national education system.<\/p>\n
\"Not everyone can follow it. Only 40 percent of primary
\nschools graduates can. What will happen to the rest of them?\"
\nasked the staff lecturer at Atmajaya Catholic University and
\nformer principal of Kanisius Senior High School.<\/p>\n
\"The system should not overburden junior high school students
\nbecause it is only intended to prepare them to enter senior high
\nschools and universities. It is not intended to get them jobs.\"<\/p>\n
Drost said the current education system is not preparing
\nIndonesian children sufficiently for the globalization era.<\/p>\n
\"It is nonsense to talk about globalization. We have to
\nanalyze and reorganize our education system from the primary to
\nuniversity levels,\" he told participants at the seminar organized
\nby the Union of Indonesian Catholic Students.<\/p>\n
Drost emphasized the need to revamp the junior high school
\nsystem and its curricula.<\/p>\n
The seminar Critical Analysis of the National Education System
\nToward the Globalization Era was opened by Joetata Hadihardaja,
\nthe Director of Private Universities at the Ministry of Education
\nand Culture.<\/p>\n
Sukowaluyo, a member of the House Commission IX for
\neducational affairs, in his presentation blamed the current
\neducation system for the poor quality of Indonesian university
\ngraduates.<\/p>\n
He suspected that many schools are inflating the grades of
\ntheir students in order to bolster the images of their schools.<\/p>\n
Drost criticized the current trend to establish \"super\"
\nschools in the country.<\/p>\n
Proponents of \"super\" schools say such facilities are
\nIndonesia's answer to form a better educated elite.<\/p>\n
\"The term 'super' is inviting trouble and could lead to
\nmisunderstanding. We have no need for super schools, unless
\nthey're for art and cultural education,\" Drost said.<\/p>\n
Rather than encouraging the establishment of super schools,
\nthe government should improve the system so that high school
\nstudents are prepared to go to university or to look for jobs, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said only 30 percent of senior high school students will go
\nto university and the rest will enter the work force.<\/p>\n
The current system and the prevailing culture encourage
\nstudents to go to university, he said.<\/p>\n
Parents tend to send their children to general schools rather
\nthan vocational schools, which actually would better equip the
\nchildren with the skills they need when they look for work.<\/p>\n
\"It would be disastrous if all students were groomed for
\nuniversity life when the intellectual preparedness of many is not
\nadequate,\" Drost said. (31)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/changes-called-for-in-national-school-curricula-1447893297",
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