Dewantara's ideals tainted<\/p>\n
Mateus Yumarnamto, Surabaya<\/p>\n
Indonesians annually celebrate National Education Day on May
\n2. What we know about the day is that students partake in the
\nflag ceremony, educational institutions have seminars on
\neducation and the mass media does special reports on education.
\nNot only that, some private companies have special sales events
\njust for teachers, which can include books, computers or even
\nmotorcycles.<\/p>\n
In the wave of consumerism and pragmatism, we almost forget
\nthat on this day we commemorate the birthday of a national hero:
\nSuwardi Surjaningrat. He was born on May 2, 1889 in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Surjaningrat or Ki Hajar Dewantara -- his more popular name --
\nwas a great educator as well as a great politician. Along with
\nDouwes Dekker and Cipto Mangunkusumo, he founded Indische Partij,
\nthe first party that explicitly had a position of independence
\nfrom Dutch colonialism.<\/p>\n
His article, Als ik eens Nederlander was (If I were a
\nDutchman), which satirically criticized the Dutch colonialism in
\nIndonesia, cost him his freedom. He was exiled to the Netherlands
\nin 1914.<\/p>\n
Ki Hajar Dewantara had a deep concern for the education of the
\nkaum bumiputra (the indigenous Indonesian people). As part of his
\npolitical struggle for Indonesian independence, he founded Taman
\nSiswa (Students' Garden), an institute of sorts where Indonesians
\nwere equipped with nationalistic and humanistic views. His famous
\nmotto was Ing Ngarso Sung Tuladha; Ing Madya Mbangun Karsa;
\nTutwuri Handayani (Give them examples when you are in front;
\nencourage them when you are in the middle; support them when you
\nare at the back).<\/p>\n
His philosophy on education reflected by that motto is still
\nrelevant now. Even new approaches and theories on education are
\nconsistent with the motto that suggests the main roles of a
\nteacher: a model, a motivator and a supporter.<\/p>\n
Do teachers and educators in Indonesia still have the spirit
\nof Ki Hajar Dewantara? This question is difficult to answer. We
\njust keep complaining that Indonesian education is one of the
\nworst in the world. Even the reforms in the educational system
\nseem to have no clear direction.<\/p>\n
The controversial Government Regulation Draft on the National
\nStandard Education -- which will soon be issued -- suggests that
\neducation is viewed as an economic instrument.<\/p>\n
In the explanation of chapter 16 verse (1) it is mentioned
\nthat \"the independent formal education is a formal education that
\nis meant for citizens who are academically and financially able,
\nand who regard education as an investment for the future.\"<\/p>\n
Investing money for education is not wrong, especially for
\nthose who are rich and able. How about those who are poor and
\nmediocre? The government offers a solution by putting them in the
\nstate's standard formal education system, which is meant for
\ncitizens who are academically and financially less able. It is
\nalso meant to be a safety net for those who cannot compete in the
\nclassroom.<\/p>\n
Ki Hajar Dewantara would have cried if he were to see that the
\neducational system that he built had become an instrument of new
\ncolonialism. It does not make people free from dependence and it
\ndoes not unite people as a nation. The education system in his
\nmind was supposed to be one that is based on the preferential
\noption for the poor, not for the rich. He used to educate
\nbumiputra -- colonialists also called them coolies.<\/p>\n
Nationalism is probably out of fashion in the era of
\nglobalization and internationalization. However, to have a better
\nvision of education for the nation, we have to revitalize what Ki
\nHajar Dewantara thoughts. He was a real guru for the nation and
\nwas proud of being a teacher.<\/p>\n
Now, are teachers still proud of their profession? Have they
\ntried hard to become a model, a motivator or a supporter of the
\nstudents? Have they pushed students to be thoroughly independent
\nhuman beings?<\/p>\n
It is time for all Indonesian teachers and educators to
\ncontinue the unfinished job in educating the nation by
\nrevitalizing what Ki Hajar Dewantara started.<\/p>\n
The writer is a lecturer at the Teacher Training and Education
\nSchool of the Widya Mandala Catholic University in Surabaya.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dewantaras-ideals-tainted-1447893297",
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