Higher education still a status symbol<\/p>\n
Hera Diani and Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Andri Wongso, founder of Harvest Card, the Indonesian version of
\nHallmark, was not prepared for the questions that came from
\nstudents at a recent career day held at state SMUN 35 high
\nschool, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Andri had just finished telling his rags-to-riches story to a
\ntotal of 650 students from SMUN 7, SMUN 24 and SMUN 35 senior
\nhigh schools at an event arranged by General Electric. It was the
\nsecond such event staged by the company.<\/p>\n
In a loud voice and with a firm tone, often asking students to
\nkeep quiet, he revealed how hard work, honesty and other virtues
\nhad landed him success, despite the fact that he had barely
\ngraduated from elementary school.<\/p>\n
Syahrul, 18, a senior at SMUN 35 high school, quickly
\nresponded to Andri's remarks, saying that his father had always
\nbeen honest and a hard worker, yet his family remained
\nfinancially modest.<\/p>\n
\"Well, honest people are sometimes cheated, and it could
\nhappen to anyone. That's the way to learn about life,\" Andri
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Although dissatisfied with the answer, Syahrul did not ask any
\nmore questions. Later he told The Jakarta Post that he was
\nworried he could not get into university as his parents were in
\nfinancial trouble, which had left them unable to pay for his
\nuniversity tuition.<\/p>\n
\"I really want to study psychology at Gadjah Mada University
\n(in Yogyakarta),\" said the eldest of three siblings.<\/p>\n
Apart from wanting to lead a better life by working for a
\nuniversity degree, he said he wanted to prove something to his
\nmother's family, who often mocked his family for being none too
\nsuccessful.<\/p>\n
While his dream of obtaining a university degree is
\nnoteworthy, Syahrul missed the whole point of the career day in
\nthe first place: That not every high school graduate can or
\nshould enter university. Instead, they may have other options,
\nsuch as obtaining a diploma or developing their entrepreneurial
\nskills.<\/p>\n
Andri's experience was a perfect example, though, and so was
\nthe experience of another speaker at the event, photographer
\nAchmad Budiman from the Asia Foundation, who had started from
\nnothing.<\/p>\n
However, Syahrul's view is understandable, as most Indonesians
\nstill perceive higher education to be a status symbol.<\/p>\n
As society still clings to a feudal pattern whereby one's
\nachievement is determined by one's status rather than merit, it
\nis small wonder that most people think of a university degree as
\na ticket to a more respected place in society.<\/p>\n
As a result, nearly half a million senior high school
\ngraduates compete each year for places at 46 state universities
\nacross the country, while only about 20 percent of them will
\nenter.<\/p>\n
Private universities with questionable credentials have
\nmushroomed, and, worse still, fake degrees can easily be obtained
\nthrough some institutions, as long as you have the money.<\/p>\n
Rector of the University of Indonesia Usman Chatib Warsa said
\nthat parents had to be prepared to change their opinion that
\ntheir children ought to go to university after graduating from
\nhigh school.<\/p>\n
\"Some children may have good skills rather than
\nintellectuality. They should aim for a diploma rather than a
\nuniversity degree. If they were forced to enroll at university,
\nthey might not be able to compete; thus their grades would be
\ndisappointing,\" he told the Post.<\/p>\n
The government, he added, ought to promote the view through
\nhigh schools that children could achieve their potential without
\nnecessarily going to university.<\/p>\n
\"At the same time, the government should also establish more
\npolytechnics, which are still fewer in number than universities,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Chatib also called on companies not to underestimate graduates
\nfrom polytechnics in their working environment, and provide them
\nwith good remuneration and opportunities for career progression.<\/p>\n
However, besides the perception that a degree confers self-
\nesteem and is a status symbol, the low minimum wage in this
\ncountry is another reason why people want to work for a
\nuniversity degree in order to get a better job.<\/p>\n
The provincial minimum wage in Jakarta, for example, is only
\naround Rp 600,000 per month, while living costs are a lot higher
\nthan that. Under such circumstances high school graduates must
\nthink of developing whatever entrepreneurial skills they might
\npossess.<\/p>\n
According to SMUN 35 high school principal Suparmi, some
\nstudents were truly inspired by the first career day that they
\nstarted their own businesses after graduating, instead of going
\non to higher education.<\/p>\n
\"I met some of them: They sell chickens at the market, or hire
\nout potted flowers. At least they have the motivation to do
\nsomething, and are not embarrassed to do so, either,\" she said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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