Educational expert says 1994 curriculum too tough<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An expert on education warns that the new school
\ncurriculum introduced nationwide last year is so tough that only
\na handful of students are likely to make it through.<\/p>\n
The 1994 curriculum should be simplified in order to enable
\nmore students to reach and pass through the junior and general
\nsenior high school levels, Father J. Drost S.J. said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
"The new 1994 curriculum is very thorough. If it is fully
\nimplemented maybe only 50 percent to 60 percent of elementary
\nschool children will be eligible to enter junior high, and only
\n30 percent of junior high students will be able to enter general
\nsenior high school," Drost said during the dedication of new
\nfacilities for St. Laurensia School.<\/p>\n
He warned that under the new curriculum, between 40 percent
\nand 50 percent of children finishing elementary school and 70
\npercent of the students finishing junior high school will be
\nforced to drop out of the general education schools and enter
\nvocational schools where the curriculum is simpler.<\/p>\n
The new curriculum was introduced at the start of the 1994-
\n1995 academic year in July, at the same time as the launching of
\nthe nine-year compulsory school program.<\/p>\n
It integrates elementary and junior high school educations
\ninto a nine-year program, allows schools to pack local subjects
\ninto the education package and cuts down the number of compulsory
\nsubjects taught at both grade and secondary schools. The
\ncurriculum is currently being implemented on a trial basis at
\njunior high and general education high schools.<\/p>\n
Drost considers the 1994 curriculum as compelling school
\nprincipals to impose a tighter selection system when enrolling
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
"This in turn will produce 'favorite schools' consisting of
\nstate and private schools which impose a tight selection system
\nand are therefore more difficult to enter," he said.<\/p>\n
Knowledge<\/p>\n
Suyudanta SJ, principal of Canissius High School, pointed out
\nthat schools must not only be capable of providing students with
\npackages of knowledge, but must also be able to stimulate the
\nstudents' ability to express and analyze the contents of the
\ncourses given to them.<\/p>\n
"Teachers should not stop at feeling gratified after they have
\ntransferred knowledge to their students. If their job is limited
\nto this, students will only be capable of memorizing something,
\nwhile in fact they should also be able to express and comment on
\nwhat they have received," Suyudanta said.<\/p>\n
He said that school curriculums should only be considered
\ninstruments for teachers.<\/p>\n
He was concerned at the fact that many teachers think that the
\nmore study materials are given to students, the more intelligent
\nthey will become. "This is wrong," he said.<\/p>\n
"The major shortcomings of schools are that they do not follow
\nan orderly method in the teaching and learning process. Schools
\nonly act as communicators of the basic stages of knowledge, when
\nin fact they should develop the analytical and expressive skills
\nof the students," Suyudanta said. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/educational-expert-says-1994-curriculum-too-tough-1447893297",
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