Scientists want certification agency<\/p>\n
SERPONG, West Java (JP): Scientists ended their five-day
\nmeeting here yesterday, calling for the establishment of an
\nindependent certification body to earn the world's trust in local
\nproducts.<\/p>\n
They said that Indonesia needs to have an independent
\ncertification institution to improve the competitiveness of its
\nproducts on the world market.<\/p>\n
\"It is high time for Indonesia to have such an independent
\ninstitution that, in fact, it should be established in the coming
\nfew months instead of years,\" congress chairman Parangtopo said.<\/p>\n
\"At the present the certification agency is run by the
\ngovernment. How reliable can its assessments be?\" he asked. \"For
\nexample, how reliable is it when it says that doctors having
\ngraduated from state universities are better than those from
\nprivate schools?\"<\/p>\n
The meeting also questioned the government's authority to
\naccredit privately-owned education and health institutions.<\/p>\n
The congress, attended by around 600 scientists from various
\ndisciplines, was held at the National Research Board premises in
\nSerpong, 35 kilometers southwest of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Kartono Muhammad, who chaired the Forum for Scientists, said
\nthe government-run certification body will no longer be credible
\nbecause it does not have the capability to carry out its jobs.<\/p>\n
\"Certifying that a doctor has met national qualifications
\nshould not be done by the government but by an independent
\ninstitution in cooperation with the Indonesian Medical
\nAssociation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kartono, former Medical Association chairman, said that the
\nassociation met opposition from the government and the Indonesian
\nInstitute of Sciences when it proposed an independent
\ncertification agency in 1982.<\/p>\n
\"Now that Indonesia is facing many difficulties during
\neconomic liberalization, the government realizes its importance,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Warning<\/p>\n
He warned that Indonesian professionals will not be able to
\ncompete with their foreign competitors unless they make
\nimprovements in time for the coming decade of liberalized world
\ntrade.<\/p>\n
With the enforcement of the General Agreement on Tariffs and
\nTrade and the ASEAN Free Trade Area, for example, Indonesia will
\nno longer be able to prevent foreign professionals from entering
\nthe country, he said.<\/p>\n
Even at the present, many foreign professionals, such as
\nconsultants, accountants and engineers, have been employed in
\nIndonesia, generally at wages higher than what locals earn.<\/p>\n
Kartono said that the proposed certification institution would
\ncooperate with professional associations to set standards for
\nproviding certification.<\/p>\n
He suggested that qualifications of professionals, the quality
\nof education and health institutions as well as local products be
\nreviewed regularly.<\/p>\n
For example, physicians should have their qualifications
\nevaluated on a regular basis to ensure that they can perform
\ntheir jobs as required.<\/p>\n
Samaun Samadikun, chairman of the congress's steering
\ncommittee, said that the five-day meeting had paid serious
\nattention to the development of the country's human resources.<\/p>\n
\"This all has, of course, to do with all the developments in
\nthe international world, especially in the trade sector,\" he
\nsaid.(rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/scientists-want-certification-agency-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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