On total reform of education system<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post of Aug. 6, 1999 carried an interview with the
\nminister of education and culture titled Indonesian education
\nsystem needs total reform: Minister. I was keen to know the
\ndetails and the kind of education reform strategies the minister
\nwould suggest in the interview.<\/p>\n
While I concur with most of this ideas on the urgent need for
\ntotal reform in the Indonesian education system considering the
\ncurrent trend of issues in the sociopolitical arena, I
\nnevertheless disagree with the minister's opinion that it is
\n\"unfair to compare Indonesia's education system with those
\napplied in other countries because of different social, cultural,
\nhistorical and demographic conditions.\"<\/p>\n
As a foreigner, I wonder why the minister shied away from the
\nreality that Indonesia has always been in the forefront in
\ncomparing itself with other countries (especially the United
\nStates of America) in many aspects. Why not in the education
\nsystem?<\/p>\n
The minister is aware that it is the education system which is
\ntasked with the mission to prepare and develop Indonesia's human
\nresources not only for national development but also to face the
\nchallenges of globalization. However, this idea makes competition
\nwith other countries quite inexorable.<\/p>\n
To some extent, the minister was also right in saying that
\ncountries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand have \"impressive
\neducation systems\", similarly, they differ in their \"social,
\ncultural, historical and demographic conditions\". Does it mean
\nthat the highlighted difference will hinder Indonesia in
\nborrowing some of the relevant aspects of the education system to
\nbe instituted in the reform agenda?<\/p>\n
Understanding the past is important in order to determine
\none's future direction. One of the observations why the
\nSingaporean or Malaysian education systems are far better than
\nthe Indonesian system as appreciated by the minister is based on
\na historical perspective. It is quite difficult for a newcomer to
\nclearly understand the legacy of Indonesia's education system. Is
\nit a Dutch, an American or a British oriented education system?
\nThis challenge has a lot to be desired in Indonesia's education
\nsystem reform.<\/p>\n
Globalization changes the need for institutions faster than
\nthe institutions themselves are able to change. Modern
\ninternational economics, politics, business, science, technology,
\nadvanced education, travel and entertainment are primarily
\nconducted in the English language (the Post, June 19, 1999).<\/p>\n
Many foreign businesses require employee applicants to have an
\nunderstanding of the English language because using translators
\nis too slow and inefficient for the competitive marketplace. As
\npart of the essential future strategies for total education
\nreform in Indonesia, I would have expected the minister to have
\npointed out something concerned with the introduction of English
\nas a medium of instruction in higher learning institutions,
\nespecially in leading state universities such as the University
\nof Indonesia, Gajah Mada University, the Bandung Institute of
\nTechnology and the Bogor Institute of Agriculture.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, I see the future effort of making Indonesia's
\nhuman resources ready for globalization (the Post, Sept. 25,
\n1998) to be in the doldrums. I predict the most powerful job
\nopportunities which will be advertised by international companies
\nwith business ties in Indonesia are likely to be taken up by
\n\"your neighbors\" who you are not ready to compete with.<\/p>\n
RAPHAEL LENGESA NOMBO<\/p>\n
Yogyakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/on-total-reform-of-education-system-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }