Government to introduce critical learning<\/p>\n
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government will allow schools to choose their history
\ntextbooks and teach all the conflicting versions in class so as
\nto allow students to learn critically about various events in
\nthe past, an official said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fajar said that the
\ndecision to allow the use of any textbooks was taken after the
\ngovernment said it would not make any revision to existing
\nhistory textbooks.<\/p>\n
The government would also create a wide opportunity for the
\npublication of other versions of history, he said.<\/p>\n
\"History teachers should teach wisely all versions of history
\nto their classes and open discussion on the subject. By doing
\nthis, we're encouraging the thinking process of the students and
\nletting them criticize historical records,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Malik made the remarks at a joint media conference with State
\nMinister of Culture and Tourism I Gde Ardika and the Indonesian
\nMilitary's (TNI's) head of history and traditional research Brig.
\nGen. Busri Boer at the Theater Room of the Divine Pancasila
\nMonument in Lubang Buaya, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Both Malik and Ardika planned to invite historians to discuss
\nthe issues around the 1965 aborted coup attempt blamed on the
\nnow-defunct Indonesian Communist Party from an \"objective\" point
\nof view.<\/p>\n
\"The issues will be considered as objectively as possible, but
\nnot necessarily in the form of the government's white book or
\nreference. It will be one of our initiatives to unify
\nperspectives on how to evaluate history,\" Malik said.<\/p>\n
He said that there had thus far been many memoirs and books
\nclaiming to show what really happened on the night of the
\nincident and the role of particular persons in that tragedy.<\/p>\n
Busri Boer admitted that even though many versions of the
\ntragedy had been published, none had yet been verified.<\/p>\n
\"So far we still stick to the first version since it was based
\non evidence and testimonies from those that took part in the
\ntragedy and from studies around the incident,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The media briefing took place after the ceremony for the
\ncommemoration of National Tragedy Remembrance Day on Oct. 1,
\nwhich was formerly known as Divine Pancasila Day.<\/p>\n
Monday's ceremony took only about 20 minutes, without any
\nformalities or visits by the guests to the memorabilia or
\nexhibits at the monument of the massacre of nine military
\ngenerals on Sept. 30, 1965.<\/p>\n
No special stage was built for distinguished guests, including
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri, who presided over the ceremony
\nthat started at 8 a.m.<\/p>\n
The routine reading and signing of an oath to safeguard
\nPancasila by the speaker of the House of Representatives was also
\nomitted from the ceremony.<\/p>\n
The event was more focused on contemplating the national
\ntragedy and not creating psychological trauma so the next
\ngeneration could learn the values of the bloody tragedy and not
\nlet it happen again, Malik said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-to-introduce-critical-learning-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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