New national curriculum not possible until 2000<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite strong calls from education experts to
\nrevise the 1994 national education curriculum quickly, officials
\nsay the revised edition will not be ready until 2000 at the
\nearliest.<\/p>\n
Head of the Center for Curriculum Development and Educational
\nInstruments, Djamil Ibrahim, said that overhauling a curriculum
\nwas no easy task; requiring thorough consideration and
\npreparation.<\/p>\n
\"To revise a curriculum also means revising the whole national
\neducation system, it's not an easy and quick job.<\/p>\n
\"It needs time and full attention. It can be finished in 2000
\nat the earliest or, at the latest, in 2004,\" he told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
Djamil also warned of possible \"side effects\" from a hasty
\napplication of a new curriculum.<\/p>\n
He pointed out financial implications which may arise because
\nthe government would have to appropriate a hefty budget to fund
\nits application as well as upgrade teachers' skills and publish
\nnew textbooks.<\/p>\n
\"Parents will also be affected because they have to shop for
\nnew books for their children. Its especially tough in this
\nmonetary crisis. I don't think we want students to drop out of
\nschools just because their parents can't afford to buy new
\nbooks,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to Djamil, a team comprising officials from the
\nministry's research and development body and the Center for
\nCurriculum Development and Educational Instruments, are still in
\nthe preliminary phase of revamping the curriculum.<\/p>\n
Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono hinted last
\nmonth that the 1994 curriculum would be revised but noted that it
\nshould not be hurried, particularly considering the country's
\ndire condition.<\/p>\n
It is expected that the revisions would focus on, among
\nothers, the number of subjects given and teaching methodology.<\/p>\n
The 1994 curriculum was launched by the then minister of
\neducation and culture, Wardiman Djojonegoro.<\/p>\n
It was designed to meet growing industrial needs by providing
\nskilled human resources, based on a \"link and match\" orientation
\nin which schools would provide basic vocational training to
\nstudents entering a specific occupation.<\/p>\n
The 1994 curriculum replaced the 1984 one, which focused on an
\nactive learning process by students facilitated by their
\nteachers.<\/p>\n
However, the 1994 curriculum has received a barrage of
\ncriticism for being to centralistic and rigid.<\/p>\n
Currently serving senior officials at the Ministry of
\nEducation and Culture are among those who have lambasted the 1994
\ncurriculum, stressing the need for an immediate revision.<\/p>\n
Director General of Extracurricular Education, Youth and
\nSports Soedijarto contended the 1994 curriculum burdens students
\nand teachers with too many subjects.<\/p>\n
\"Students can't even enjoy their classes. So how can we say
\nthey comprehend the knowledge?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
Soedijarto was all for an immediate revision of the current
\ncurriculum despite his own minister's warning that it should not
\nbe a hurried process.<\/p>\n
He brushed aside arguments of the high cost of implementing a
\nnew curriculum at the present time, arguing that failure to do so
\nwould gravely affect Indonesia's future generation.<\/p>\n
\"In two or three years time, we'll only have laborers to
\nfulfill industry needs, we won't have people who are educated,\"
\nhe charged.<\/p>\n
Soedijarto further lamented what he believed to be an embedded
\nlapse in national education of over-stressing the importance of
\ngrades.<\/p>\n
Currently, he said, students were focused too much on
\nattaining high grades without truly comprehending the content of
\ntheir knowledge.<\/p>\n
Soedijarto argued that the 1994 curriculum had the original
\nintent of producing intellectuals but it has been misinterpreted
\nas those with satisfying grades.<\/p>\n
\"Grades are not the right measure because the essence of our
\neducation is how to prepare basic knowledge and skills to live in
\nour society,\" he said. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-national-curriculum-not-possible-until-2000-1447893297",
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