Prospects, challenges ahead for the region<\/p>\n
By Dewi Anggraeni<\/p>\n
SANUR, Bali (JP): Prospects full of challenge. That was the
\nverdict for the region from participants in this week's Linking
\nLatitudes Symposium at Bali Hyatt hotel here.<\/p>\n
Rapid economic growth, while raising the living standard of a
\nsignificant sector of the population in the region, is also the
\nsource of a string of problems which in many ways are mutually
\nlinked.<\/p>\n
Growth has brought massive demographic changes in the physical
\nas well as social sense. The middle class is continuously
\nincreasing, putting an unprecedented pressure on the urban
\ninfrastructure as its members flow into city centers. Naturally,
\nconsumerism also runs rampant as the demand of the new moneyed
\nmiddle class goes through the roof. An inevitable victim is the
\nenvironment.<\/p>\n
Since growth does not necessarily favor everyone, there are
\nalso human victims, namely those swept onto the wayside by the
\ndevelopment traffic. Understandably, these people feel
\ndisenfranchised and resentful, which spells a threat to social
\ncohesiveness and stability. They will not necessarily see that
\nthe globalization trend that has pushed them out of the main
\nhighway has taken on a force and speed of its own, and they
\neither have to scramble back or be left behind.<\/p>\n
Something that can assist them in returning to join the
\ntraffic is education. In his speech marking National Family Day
\non Monday, President Soeharto exhorted families to save up for
\ntheir children's education. It is clear here that challenges for
\neducators are enormous and complex.<\/p>\n
Education institutions can no longer feel secure that the
\ncurrent curriculum is the best. In fact, they need to be one step
\nahead to be effective in keeping up with global trends. Educators
\nare no longer mere teachers, but also social experts, adept at
\nreading trends and prospects.<\/p>\n
As for students, learning the basic skills is only the first
\nstep. The horizon that opens up after that is almost limitless.
\nThey have to learn the skills that can penetrate beyond national
\nand regional boundaries. Only mastery of these skills can equip
\nthem with the knowledge of what is to come, and prepare
\nthemselves to face the prospects.<\/p>\n
Problem<\/p>\n
A pressing problem addressed at the symposium was how to
\nprevent the environmental disaster sure to result if
\ndevelopment's helter-skelter pace is not checked appropriately.
\nIn his presentation, former environment minister Emil Salim
\nshowed a chart where the growth of the middle class and the rate
\nof damage of the environment are almost parallel -- and fast
\nnearing the threshold line.<\/p>\n
What to do? Armageddon? Total meltdown? Press the panic button
\nand despair? Emil proposed that policymakers and business leaders
\nshould look at a different framework.<\/p>\n
"We can't stop development," he said as the three-day meeting
\nended on Wednesday. "However, we can lift the threshold by
\ncollectively adopting and implementing different criteria."
\nEmil's proposal involves translating the environmental health
\nrhetoric into real, enforceable policies. Governments should put
\nin place powerful and practicable law, and businesses should lift
\nenvironment requirements from the bottom to the top of their
\nlists and print them in bold.<\/p>\n
Emil said businesses need to operate using specific terms of
\nreference. Waste minimization, quality assurance, and therefore
\ncleaner production should be incorporated into their business
\nplans. In terms of manufacturing, for instance, by using less
\nspace, fewer raw materials, emitting less chemical waste, they
\nshould produce good quality commodities, which will not encourage
\ntheir consumers to discard waste products lightly. More
\nimportantly, along with the threat of enforceable law, the
\ncommunity needs an atmosphere of businesses educated in
\nenvironmental imperatives.<\/p>\n
Good businesses will understand that maintaining the
\nenvironment will benefit them, because continuous damage to the
\nenvironment will eventually render it totally unsustainable, and
\ntheir operations will grind to a stop. In the short term, it
\nappears that the onus is on governments to provide the legal
\nframework.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, for a long-term objective of preparing the
\nnext generations of policymakers, business leaders and good
\ncitizens for a better future and a better world to live in, the
\ntasks fall squarely on the shoulders of our educators and
\neducation experts.<\/p>\n
Hopefully, the 250-odd education planners and practitioners
\nfrom Indonesia, Australia and other countries attending this
\nsymposium will be able to pass on their inspired enthusiasm to
\ntheir colleagues when they return to work. If this objective is
\nachieved, the Asia Education Foundation of Australia will be able
\nto proclaim that their national conference has been extremely
\nsuccessful.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prospects-challenges-ahead-for-the-region-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}