Education experts call for greater school autonomy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Education experts called on Tuesday for greater
\nautonomy for schools to allow them to employ their own teaching
\nmethods without being hampered by rigid guidelines that often do
\nnot correspond with local conditions.<\/p>\n
It is through such freedom, they said, that basic national
\ncurriculum standards can be reached.<\/p>\n
"We all agree that a basic national curriculum must be
\nretained, but the schools must be given a free rein to implement
\ntheir own methods in complying with the standard curriculum," Ki
\nSupriyoko, the chairman of the Yogyakarta-based Taman Siswa
\neducation foundation, said during a seminar here on the national
\nschool curriculum.<\/p>\n
Schools have their own experience in teaching pupils and the
\ngovernment should trust them, he said.<\/p>\n
"Therefore, rigid guidelines for teaching and requirements
\nfrom what to teach to what books to read, should no longer be
\nimposed," he said, adding that "such guidelines only hamper the
\ncreativity of teachers and of the whole learning process".<\/p>\n
Supriyoko further said that schools such as Taman Siswa,
\nMuhamadiyah and Catholic schools already had proven experience in
\nthe education field and therefore were entitled to employ their
\nown methods to meet national curriculum standards.<\/p>\n
"The central government's only function here is as a
\nregulator. For instance, the curriculum says that English must be
\nmastered in junior high school.<\/p>\n
"Each school must be able to meet this requirement, but let
\nthem have their own ways to fulfill the requirement without being
\nstifled by having to follow the guidelines," Supriyoko said.<\/p>\n
Taman Siswa will meet in Yogyakarta in March with its Java and
\nSumatra chapters to discuss the possibility of developing their
\nown lessons and teaching materials, Supriyoko said.<\/p>\n
He also said local administrations were not ready to manage
\neducation programs under the regional autonomy framework,
\npointing out there were no clear regulations to guide them.<\/p>\n
"Law No. 22\/1999 says education will be handled by the
\nregions, but government regulation No. 25\/1999 says the central
\ngovernment will regulate the national curriculum ... so,
\nbasically, it is confusing," he said.<\/p>\n
Education expert J. Drost agreed, saying regional autonomy
\nalso would result in unintended consequences for the education
\nfield.<\/p>\n
"Schools must have a greater say in education and in meeting
\nthe national curriculum. How many regents do you think are smart
\nenough to handle such complicated issues?" he remarked.<\/p>\n
"In Banten there is even a case where some 12 people cannot be
\npromoted as teachers simply because they are not Banten natives.
\nIt's crazy! Regional autonomy is about sharing authority, not
\nabout ethnic pride," Drost, who is a former principal of the
\nprestigious Canisius High School, told The Jakarta Post. (edt\/02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/education-experts-call-for-greater-school-autonomy-1447893297",
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