Emancipating minds<\/p>\n
Today, May 2, Indonesia commemorates National Education Day. The
\ndate was chosen in remembrance of Ki Hajar Dewantara who was born
\n106 years ago in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
It was he who pioneered the first truly Indonesian school with
\nthe intent of addressing the segregation experienced by the
\nindigenous population under the Dutch colonial rule.<\/p>\n
He, along with other famous historical figures such as Kartini
\nand Dewi Sartika, understood the true value of education. It was
\nmore than a simple process of teaching people to read and write,
\nor a diploma to hang on the wall.<\/p>\n
Education was, and still is, about emancipation (for men and
\nwomen alike). Education is the foundation of social empowerment,
\neconomic mobility and leads to national development.<\/p>\n
A nation can be de jure independent. Nevertheless, without an
\neducated mass its soul remains colonized by ignorance.<\/p>\n
It is no coincidence that the founders of the nation's
\nnationalist movements were the educated few who were enlightened
\nthrough the liberating world of academia.<\/p>\n
This nation's independence was paid for with centuries of
\nblood and suffering. But it was the innovation of educated
\nnationalists who charted Indonesia's road to independence.<\/p>\n
Education was the initial fuel and eventual bond of an
\nIndonesian consciousness.<\/p>\n
In this era of cyberspace, a strong public education system is
\na requisite for any developed nation. It is not natural resources
\nor military might which is the determinant of success. Countries
\nlike Japan, South Korea and Singapore have shown that the
\nbackbone of their economic rise is its determined, skilled and
\neducated peoples.<\/p>\n
Despite the populist rhetoric and political posturing, since
\nthe economic crisis of 1997, education has become a secondary
\nconsideration for this nation.<\/p>\n
While some of our gifted children shine in international
\nacademic olympiads, their achievement is, sadly, no reflection on
\nthe prevailing state of education.<\/p>\n
In a \"crisis-like\" environment where the main objective is
\nsurvival, education becomes a mere tool to that affect.<\/p>\n
That being the case, our education outlook has not progressed
\nmuch from the colonial era in which education for the indigenous
\npopulation was designed to ensure the public service was properly
\nstaffed.<\/p>\n
We seem to be moving away, as one writer wrote in this
\nnewspaper, from an education system \"connected to the
\nhumanitarian and holistic needs for intellectual and social
\ngrowth.\"<\/p>\n
Here education no longer empowers, but condemns people to
\npredetermined servility.<\/p>\n
Our distractions also brings us to superfluous national
\ndebates concerning sex education, religion in the curriculum and
\nschool uniforms. Yes these issues are important, but they are
\nseasoning for the more important, and basic, entree -- simple
\nnourishment for hungry minds.<\/p>\n
Schools, of course, should also be free from political
\ninterests.<\/p>\n
Vocational education must go hand-in-hand with a curriculum
\nthat is geared toward intellectual enlightenment. Primary school
\nchildren should be injected with creativity, while higher
\neducation is an intellectual emancipation ground, where
\nhumanity's greatest works -- in science and the arts; and
\nconcepts conservatism, secularism, religion, ethics, the rule of
\nlaw and humanitarianism -- are discovered and developed.<\/p>\n
We need more than simple robots who can screw bolts in a
\nproduction line.<\/p>\n
Without the poets and thinkers this country would never have
\nbecome independent. Their absence in the future dooms this nation
\nto global servility -- colonialism by other means.<\/p>\n
A recommitment is needed. What other better investment can
\nthis nation make then investing in the education and health for
\nits citizens?<\/p>\n
It is not a matter of sparse resources. Neither is it a case
\nof dividing resources equally to all sectors for development. It
\nis about saying that the country wants to commit to emancipating
\nits people regardless of the cost.<\/p>\n
Enlightenment never comes cheap. But the cost of national
\nretardation is even more costly.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/emancipating-minds-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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