Government told to refocus on education trilogy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The celebration of National Teacher's Day and
\nthe 55th anniversary of the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI) on
\nSaturday was marked with a call to refocus on the teaching of the
\nbig three of morals, science and technology and reading.<\/p>\n
\"It is time for us to wake up from the crisis and improve our
\neducation system,\" Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin
\nsaid in a written address carried by state television station
\nTVRI.<\/p>\n
Teachers, along with parents, are the moral patrons of
\nchildren, he said.<\/p>\n
\"What we say and do affects our children, therefore we have to
\nset concrete and good examples for them. This includes not using
\nviolence or forcing our will on others,\" Yahya said.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the minister called for improvements in the quality
\nof education, and less stress on subjects such as ideology and
\ncivics.<\/p>\n
The ministry's main aim now is a substantial improvement in
\nthe quality of elementary and secondary education. The same also
\ngoes for universities, he said.<\/p>\n
Yahya said elementary and secondary schools should concentrate
\non three main elements, namely morals, writing and reading, as
\nwell as basic sciences such as mathematics.<\/p>\n
Elementary and secondary school students do not require too
\nmany lessons on ideology or civic affairs, he said.<\/p>\n
\"They need a dynamic curriculum that fits their needs and
\ncontains lessons that can help them master basic knowledge and
\nsciences,\" Yahya said.<\/p>\n
Separately, PGRI chairman Muhammad Surya said improving the
\nwelfare of the country's some 2.2 million teachers was still a
\nmajor concern.<\/p>\n
\"So far, 1.6 million teachers have joined PGRI. We are glad
\nthat the current administration and the House of Representatives
\n(DPR) are much more sensitive to this issue,\" he told The Jakarta
\nPost on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"PGRI and the ministry are in the process of drafting a bill
\non the rights and protection of teachers. We hope to submit the
\ndraft to the DPR early next year,\" Surya said.<\/p>\n
Also, in accordance with the International Day Against
\nViolence Against Women, which also falls on Nov. 25, Surya said
\nPGRI, the Office of the State Minister of Women's Empowerment and
\nthe Ministry of National Education had formed a cooperation to
\nteach gender awareness in the schools.<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing is for teachers to use the right
\nmethod to promote an equal relationship between males and
\nfemales. We don't have to change the textbooks since it would be
\ntoo expensive.<\/p>\n
\"Simple, concrete examples are important to children. Teachers
\nmust give equal opportunity to boys and girls, as basically men
\nand women are only different in a biological context, not in
\ntheir mental capabilities,\" Surya said.<\/p>\n
National Teacher's Day will only be officially commemorated on
\nSunday at Merdeka Palace in a ceremony scheduled to be presided
\nover by President Abdurrahman Wahid. (edt)<\/p>",
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