`Prepare students for open society'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto called on teachers yesterday
\nto instill in students values, skills and characteristics that
\nwill enable them to weather the negative impact of the
\nglobalization of information and technology.<\/p>\n
Technology has enabled people to freely obtain information
\nthrough the mass media which brings foreign values that are not
\nalways suitable with local values, he said.<\/p>\n
\"It's possible that the foreign values threaten the local
\nvalue system and culture,\" he said when opening the week-long,
\n17th congress of the All Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI).<\/p>\n
He added that the onslaught of information through TV, radio
\nand newspapers spurred the kind of openness which may pose a
\nthreat to the nation's integrity.<\/p>\n
\"That may happen unless we fully comprehend our concept of
\nnationalism\", he told around 11,000 teachers participating in the
\nevent which took place at the Istora Senayan Indoor Stadium.<\/p>\n
Teachers should be aware of such trends and help prepare their
\nstudents to face the changes, Soeharto said in the ceremony which
\nwas also attended by Vice President Try Sutrisno and Education
\nMinister Wardiman Djojonegoro.<\/p>\n
Mastery of science and technology is prerequisite to the
\nnation's progress in entering the 21st century, he added.<\/p>\n
PGRI was established on Nov. 25, 1945, or about three months
\nafter the country declared its independence in August that year.<\/p>\n
Roles<\/p>\n
Speaking about the role of education in development, Soeharto
\nreminded the teachers of their crucial roles in the development
\nof the nation.<\/p>\n
\"Without good education, we will not have an intelligent
\nnation...who can build the future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The effort to prepare Indonesia's children is even more
\nimportant considering the challenges that the future holds in
\nstore for them, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The world continuously changes and rapidly develops. Science
\nand technology undergo amazing progress,\" he said. \"Without good
\npreparation, it will be difficult for us to master and build our
\nfuture...or catch up with other countries.\"<\/p>\n
Soeharto also called on teachers to contribute to the success
\nof the national drive to eradicate poverty in 20,000 villages out
\nof Indonesia's some 66,000 villages.<\/p>\n
\"In the villages, teachers are community leaders and
\nrespectable figures,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto ensured the teachers that the government would never
\noverlook the teachers' service, especially those who have to work
\nin remote places.<\/p>\n
\"The government will continue to strive to show its
\nappreciation by providing material rewards, or other forms of
\nappreciation, in accordance with the government's ability,\"
\nSoeharto promised.<\/p>\n
Wardiman said that teachers throughout Indonesia's 27
\nprovinces have served as \"agents of change\" as they too are
\ninvolved in society's various programs, including family
\nplanning, village cooperatives and the family welfare movement.<\/p>\n
He also identified a number of problems faced by Indonesia's
\neducators, including the lack of welfare and shortage of
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
Earlier, PGRI Chairman Basyuni Suriamihardja reported to the
\nPresident that the congress will discuss strategies to contribute
\nmore to the country's Second 25-Year Development Plan and to set
\nup the organization's next programs.<\/p>\n
Indonesian teachers are notoriously meagerly paid and often
\nhave to take extra employment to survive financially. Elementary
\nteachers in very remote areas, for instance, receive Rp 86,000
\n(US$40.3) per month. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prepare-students-for-open-society-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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