Education system discriminates against women<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's education system continues to
\ndiscriminate against women, an expert said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a seminar on national education and women, H.A.R.
\nTilaar, a professor of educational planning at the Jakarta
\nTeachers Training College, said text books for elementary schools
\nstill play down women's role in society.<\/p>\n
\"Look at the first grade's book, which portrays mother as
\nsomeone who goes to the market every day while father goes to the
\noffice,\" he said. \"That's a blatant example of the
\ndiscrimination.\"<\/p>\n
Such books should be revised to take account of the fact that
\nmany mothers have salaried employment nowadays, he said.<\/p>\n
The seminar was attended by about 100 people, most of them
\nteachers and post-graduate students. It was held as a
\ncontribution to implementing the Platform of Action issued by
\nfourth World Conference on Women in Beijing last month.<\/p>\n
Tilaar, one of the Indonesian delegates to the conference,
\nsaid that the Indonesian curriculum still emphasizes male
\nsuperiority. \"Many people think that women aren't able to
\nparticipate in the exact sciences, such as mathematics and
\nphysics, which are usually dominated by men,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The situation was made worse through the government's
\nestablishment of model high schools, such as Taruna Nusantara,
\nfor boys only. \"If boys have top high schools, these should also
\nbe built for girls,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Most people think that spending money on women's education is
\nwasteful because women will use half of their energy for
\nactivities outside of their paid occupations, he said.<\/p>\n
Tilaar, who is also the director of the Institute of
\nEducational Management Development of the college, said teachers
\nalso have a big role to play in changing the educational system.<\/p>\n
\"Our teachers should be provided with a gender perspective,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Teachers should be educated about gender in order to change
\nstudents' behavior by making them aware of gender discrimination.
\n\"We should also change our cultural values, which underestimate
\nwomen's roles in national development,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Annah Suhaenah Soeparno, rector of the college, told The
\nJakarta Post that parents have a significant role to play in
\nteaching children about gender. \"Parents should start teaching
\nchildren about doing household tasks, which should be done by
\nboth sexes,\" she said.<\/p>\n
If children are taught about gender earlier, boys will not
\nfeel superior to girls when they grow up, she added.<\/p>\n
Tilaar said that if women are given equal educational and job
\nopportunities, they will be able to contribute a great deal to
\nthe country. \"Women should have equal opportunities in the
\npolitical, economical and social domains,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Tilaar urged the government and business to set up a training
\nprogram for female employees returning from maternity leave.<\/p>\n
\"After months of absence from the job they may loose some of
\ntheir professional abilities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I think big businesses can afford such a program,\" he said,
\nadding: \"The government could subsidize small companies which
\ncan't afford it.\" (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/education-system-discriminates-against-women-1447893297",
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