Education minister hails American standards<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): New Minister of National Education Yahya
\nMuhaimin has dreams of taking the educational experience for
\nstudents in the country to new heights.<\/p>\n
After officially taking over on Monday from predecessor Juwono
\nSoedarsono, Yahya, a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of
\nTechnology, talked enthusiastically of the need for Indonesian
\nstudents to match American standards.<\/p>\n
He said his ministry would work to promote ethical values at
\nall levels of schooling, so that, like their American
\ncounterparts, Indonesian students from elementary schools to
\nuniversities would \"perform their best both academically and
\nethically\".<\/p>\n
Yahya said parents and schools should join forces to encourage
\nstudents to implement moral values in their daily life.<\/p>\n
\"We could learn from students in the United States and other
\ndeveloped countries who are intelligent and maintain respect for
\ntheir teachers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Yahya said that the promotion of ethical values could also
\nkeep students from using drugs and involvement in street brawls.<\/p>\n
To support his bid to enhance student ethics, Yahya said he
\nwould ask schools to promote reading as a leisure time habit.<\/p>\n
He ruled out replacement of the present curriculum, saying he
\nwould instead improve the material to support government efforts
\nto produce conscientious students.<\/p>\n
\"There is no need to establish a new curriculum, because to me
\nit's more important to create an environment where students can
\nstudy and develop their ethics,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Yahya was named a minister in President Abdurrahman Wahid's
\nCabinet while he was serving as a cultural attache at the
\nIndonesian Embassy in Washington D.C.<\/p>\n
As a former lecturer at Gadjah Mada University for more than
\ntwo decades, Yahya said that improving student's mastery in basic
\nsciences would be a priority of the ministry.<\/p>\n
\"Students from elementary school to university have to excel
\nin basic sciences such as culture, mathematics, physics and
\nchemistry to enhance their creativity,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The minister expressed little confidence in regional autonomy
\nover education.<\/p>\n
\"I have read research sponsored by Gadjah Mada University that
\nof 300 regencies across the country, only five of them are
\nprepared for the new (autonomy) status.\"<\/p>\n
Yahya acknowledged the pivotal role of local governments in
\ndeveloping elementary schools, but he argued that the name given
\nto the ministry was a clear sign that education matters would
\nremain under the central government's control.<\/p>\n
When asked about the separation of the cultural affairs
\ndirectorate general from the ministry, Yahya said the issue had
\nto be first discussed with the President.<\/p>\n
\"But I expect that all staff who worked for the former
\nministry's cultural affairs directorate general could stay with
\nus.\"<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman has not yet informed employees at the
\nculture division of their fate.<\/p>\n
Three other former ministers of education and culture -- Fuad
\nHasan, Wardiman Djojonegoro and Wiranto Arismunandar -- attended
\nMonday's ceremony.<\/p>\n
Outgoing minister of education and culture Juwono has been
\nappointed minister of defense in the new Cabinet. (04)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/education-minister-hails-american-standards-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}