Priceless proposal by govt<\/p>\n
Doubtless, Sari Setiogi's front-page article Learn to speak
\nBahasa Indonesia or pack your bags! (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 15)
\nis fodder for further bewilderment as to the priorities of the
\ngovernment at a time of national crisis. The article describes
\nthe government's latest bright idea to subject all foreigners
\nworking or studying in Indonesia to a mandatory proficiency test
\nin Bahasa Indonesia, the aims being to promote communication
\nbetween expatriates and Indonesians and to see Bahasa rank as a
\nmajor global language. Well, it certainly gave me a good laugh.<\/p>\n
Does Dendy Sugono (Director of the Language Center of the
\nMinistry of National Education) really think foreigners favor
\npostings in Singapore and Malaysia over Indonesia merely because
\nthey can't get to grips with the language here? (It wouldn't
\npossibly have anything to do with the perception that Indonesia
\nis not exactly the safest of havens right now, would it?).<\/p>\n
However honorable a dream, does he really think Bahasa
\nIndonesia can make a stab at ranking as a major world language
\nlike English, French, Mandarin or German or, more to the point,
\nthat setting mandatory language tests and expecting prospective
\nworkers to be fluent before they enter the country is the way to
\nachieve this? Does Dendy actually understand how languages are
\nbest learned -- in the country the language is spoken?<\/p>\n
To give him his due, he does acknowledge that the test might
\nhave a negative impact on foreign investment as companies may be
\nreluctant to fork out extra to cover government charges for the
\nproficiency test (in addition to the fortune already spent on
\ntightened security).<\/p>\n
Maybe they will choose to invest in Singapore and Malaysia
\ninstead? (Wasn't that one of the reasons for setting the test in
\nthe first place? It doesn't take long to see the loopholes in
\nthis plan does, it?).<\/p>\n
As many expatriates spent recent Independence weekend closeted
\nat home in the wake of the Marriott Hotel bombing and fresh
\nwarnings of further terrorist attacks, the timing of Ms.
\nSetiogi's article is ironically priceless. It must surely prompt
\nforeigners and Indonesians alike to seriously question the logic
\nof this government when the biggest threat to communication and
\ninternational confidence in Indonesia is terrorism.<\/p>\n
Haven't these leaders anything better to do with their time?
\nGet real, Dendy.<\/p>\n
CATHY JONES
\nJakarta<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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