To educate the people?<\/p>\n
The decades around the beginning of the last century can be
\nconsidered as some of the most productive for Indonesia, as far
\nas the birth and emergence of great nationalist leaders is
\nconcerned. On June 6, 1901, Sukarno, who at the end of World War
\nII was to become the country's founding president, was born. Aug.
\n22, 1902, saw the birth of Mohammad Hatta, Indonesia's first vice
\npresident and co-proclaimer of the country's independence. Sutan
\nSjahrir, the youngest of the lot, who, at the age of 36, was to
\nlead the government in the difficult years immediately following
\nthe proclamation of independence on Aug. 17, 1945, followed in
\n1909.<\/p>\n
Compared with these three leaders and their contemporaries,
\nSoewardi Soerjaningrat -- better known under his adopted name Ki
\nHajar Dewantara -- whose birthday the nation commemorates today
\nas National Education Day, was a relative senior, although by
\nonly a few years, having been born on May 2, 1899.<\/p>\n
Although European colonialism appeared well enough ensconced
\nin the region, the first stirrings of nationalism were becoming
\napparent in south and southeast Asia, as witnessed by the
\nemergence of various organizations that, with the passage of
\ntime, became more and more politically oriented.<\/p>\n
Amid all those developments, Ki Hajar Dewantara, like his
\nIndian counterpart and contemporary Rabindranath Tagore -- with
\nhis Santinikethan school in West Bengal -- set himself the task
\nof building a national education system that would dispense with
\nthe elitist Dutch school system, with its emphasis on scholastic
\naptitude, and develop a system that was more suited to indigenous
\nIndonesian culture and needs. Having studied the Montessori
\neducational system in Holland, he was well equipped for the task.<\/p>\n
Thus, on July 3, 1922, the Taman Siswa Educational Institute
\n(Nationaal Onderwijs Instituut Taman Siswa) saw the light, with
\nPancadarma as its guiding philosophy, which gave students the
\nfreedom to grow and develop, each according to their own talents
\nand ambitions. It also aimed to positively promote the natural
\ngifts and characteristics of students, develop a sense of
\nnationalism and national awareness and promote a sense of
\nhumanitarianism in students.<\/p>\n
Unavoidably, however, the question arises as to whether the
\nnation still regards Ki Hajar Dewantara's labors as relevant
\ntoday. The point is, it may be one thing to pay formal tribute to
\na man who is considered a hero, but quite another to honor his
\nlife's work and ideals.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the skepticism appears justified. Consider, for
\nexample, the law on national education that at present lies
\nbefore the House of Representatives for debate. Article 1 of the
\nconvoluted text of the draft, for example, states, "education is
\nthe planned and conscious effort to create a climate of study
\nthat actively promotes (a student's) individual potential to
\npossess spiritual-religious powers, self-control, character,
\nintelligence, a noble character and skills that are needed by the
\nstudent individually, by society, the nation and the country."<\/p>\n
Throughout the deliberations by the House of Representatives,
\nthe issue of religious instruction or education has been the most
\nhotly debated on the agenda. Thousands of students, teachers and
\ncritics of all colors have demonstrated in front of the
\nlegislature, either to support or object to certain articles of
\nthe draft. In short, politics have dominated the debate, both
\ninside and outside the legislature.<\/p>\n
One could well ask whether the issue of developing a national
\neducation system that effectively meets the need of "educating
\nthe people", as the Constitution prescribes, is still in the
\nminds of our esteemed legislators. Most lamentably, whatever
\nlegislation ultimately emerges from these politically motivated
\ndebates in the House of Representatives will have the most far-
\nreaching consequences for future generations of Indonesians and
\nfor the nation.<\/p>\n
It seems that the ideals promulgated by Ki Hajar Dewantara
\nare today at least as far removed as they were when they were
\nfirst mooted more than 80 years ago.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/to-educate-the-people-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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