Putting emphasis more on learning<\/p>\n
By Mochtar Buchori<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): It has been said that a good teacher is one who
\nconstantly and continuously studies or learns. The moment
\nteachers stop learning, they begin to decline in their teaching
\ncompetence.<\/p>\n
When they stop reading anything related to their teaching
\nfunctions, then they will no longer be capable of performing a
\ngood teaching job. They will become dead wood.<\/p>\n
This insight has now been accepted in many educational
\ncircles, especially in relatively \"enlightened\" ones. The
\ncomplaint frequently expressed in these circles is that the
\nmajority of our present stock of teachers are only sufficiently
\nprepared in methods of teaching, not in methods of learning.<\/p>\n
The few theories of learning some teachers have received
\nduring their training are usually related primarily to how
\nchildren learn. Most of them have never had a course on how
\nadults learn, and how communities learn.<\/p>\n
Without sufficient skills in dealing with a vast variety of
\nleaning material, most teachers become lost when they are put in
\na rich learning environment. They feel frightened. And they feel
\ntoo embarrassed to ask for help from the attendants. Most of them
\njust shied away from good libraries and other learning centers.<\/p>\n
The end result of this situation is that the majority of our
\nschool teachers stop learning once they begin to function as
\nclassroom teachers. The impact of this condition upon the nation
\nis that the learning capability of the younger generation has
\ngradually become weaker and weaker. Only the best among them can
\nmake some sense out of the wealth of information that has become
\navailable in our environment. The majority of them cannot even
\ndistinguish the important items from the trivial ones. At the
\nend, this very much affects the learning capabilities of our
\nnation.<\/p>\n
If we want to stop this situation, and make the young
\ngeneration gain a greater learning capability and be capable of
\ndealing effectively with their problems, then we must teach them
\nhow to learn from daily life situations. We must teach them how
\nto learn formally, non-formally, and informally.<\/p>\n
Looking at the present condition pertaining to the young
\ngeneration, I think that basically there are three capabilities
\nthe young generation should acquire with regard to learning.
\nThese three can be reached through educational guidance, which
\nconsists of three equal parts: (1) guidance in academic learning;
\n(2) guidance in learning to know the world of labor market; and
\n(3) guidance in understanding the process of socio-cultural
\ntransformation that has been going on in our society.<\/p>\n
Capabilities in academic learning is very important to make
\nthe young generation digest all the information that comes into
\ntheir lives, build up their personal repertoire of knowledge, and
\neventually acquire some wisdom in their life. Without these
\ncapability they will never be really literate in their lives,
\nwhether economically, politically, socially or culturally.<\/p>\n
The capability to learn to understand the opportunities and
\nthe dictates of the labor market is very vital for their economic
\nwell-being. The majority of our young people today do not have
\nany knowledge about the intricacies of the labor market. Also
\nthey are unaware of the existence of many pre-occupational
\ntraining opportunities. This has led in many cases to months,
\nsometimes even years, of frustrating job hunting, and the
\nacceptance of underemployment. This waste of manpower and energy
\ncan be significantly reduced by providing the young generation
\nwith capabilities in reading and interpreting available
\ninformation about the labor market.<\/p>\n
The capability to understand the ongoing socio-cultural
\ntransformation is very much needed to generate a positive
\nattitude toward the future. If I am not mistaken a very great
\nnumber of sincere young people in this country see their future
\nin very dark perspectives. They have no idea concerning the
\npossibilities that are still open in the future for this nation
\nand this country. Capability in deciphering the present, and
\nbuilding images about the future are essential to fight against
\nloss of faith in the nation's capability to build up a better
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
Can all this be done? This is a challenge that Indonesian
\neducators have to answer.<\/p>\n
The writer is rector of the IKIP-Muhammadiyah Teachers
\nTraining College.<\/p>",
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