University students make the best of Pancasila course<\/p>\n
By Prapti Widinugraheni<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): University fresher students give mixed opinions
\non the obligation to take part in the Pancasila ideology course,
\nwith verdicts ranging from \"tiring\" to \"useful for our future\".<\/p>\n
Interviewed by The Jakarta Post shortly after the closing
\nceremony of the course at the main auditorium of the University
\nof Indonesia, the first spontaneous remark given by a group of
\nfemale students was that it was \"boring\".<\/p>\n
\"It makes us sleepy and its long hours are too demanding for
\nus,\" said Sari, a fresher from the School of Economics.<\/p>\n
Vina from the School of Engineering admitted that although she
\nis aware that the course was for a good cause, \"taking part in it
\nwas difficult\".<\/p>\n
Most of those who found the course dull tried to see the
\npositive side of the course, which can vary from one person to
\nanother.<\/p>\n
Rima from the School of Economy and Mira from the School of
\nSocial and Political Sciences said taking part in the Pancasila
\ncourse gave them the chance to make new friends, especially those
\nfrom other schools.<\/p>\n
This was possible since all the new students are mixed and
\nthen divided into big groups consisting of 212 to 310 students
\nand smaller groups comprising some 30 students, they added.<\/p>\n
A group of male students enjoyed the course, particularly the
\ndiscussion sessions which they found a good place to express
\ntheir opinions on political issues.<\/p>\n
\"We can debate on articles of the 1945 Constitution or the
\ncountry's political system,\" said Petter and Sutan, both from the
\nSchool of Economics.<\/p>\n
Budi from the School of Social and Political Sciences said he
\ndid not see any immediate benefit of the ideology course,
\nalthough he was certain \"it would be useful in the future as our
\ndaily guideline\".<\/p>\n
The students said not all the sessions were exciting.<\/p>\n
\"The intensive sessions could be quite boring and if we are
\nnot sleepy, we may be lucky enough to listen to them,\" said Dedi
\nwho is taking up economics. He added that the atmosphere of a
\nsession depended on the lecturer's skill to liven up the class.<\/p>\n
One particular advantage they definitely gained from the
\ncourse which they all agreed was that \"We got to know the girls\".<\/p>\n
Sessions<\/p>\n
The Pancasila course consisted of discussions, simulations and
\nintensive debates on Pancasila, the 1945 State Constitution and
\nthe State Guidelines.<\/p>\n
Known better as the P4 course, it lasted for five days, from
\n7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.<\/p>\n
The P4 course was first introduced by the government in 1978
\nto civil servants, politicians and professionals.<\/p>\n
Starting in 1983, it was made a mandatory course for first-
\nyear university students under a 100-hour scheme, replacing
\nhazing towards new students which the government considered non-
\neducational.<\/p>\n
Starting this year the course has been reduced to 45 hours and
\nis now a prerequisite to enable student to take two credit points
\non Pancasila Studies.<\/p>\n
The University of Indonesia this year gave the course to 2,612
\nstudents, which is an increase from last year's 2,473, 1992's
\n2,494 and 1991's 2,239 students.<\/p>\n
According to Chairman of the University's P4 course Soesiswo,
\n4.8 percent of students failed to pass the course this year. In
\n1993, 1992 and 1991, 5.8, 8.7 and 8.2 percent failed it,
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
The effectiveness of the P4 course has long been a subject of
\ndebate.<\/p>\n
Former vice president Sudharmono who now heads the
\nPresidential Advisory Board on the Promotion of Pancasila
\nadmitted last month on the need to invigorate the course and the
\nmaterial of the P4 course.<\/p>\n
He said the course should be more interesting so people would
\nnot take it only because it was mandatory but more because they
\nwanted to.<\/p>\n
P4 lecturer Suwarniyati Sartomo, who is also a staff member of
\nthe UI's School of Social and Political Sciences, considered the
\ncourse as \"definitely very effective\".<\/p>\n
\"Now that the 100-hour scheme has been reduced to 45, I am
\nsure students will be more actively involved and interested,\" she
\ntold The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
She considered those who were easily bored and worn out as
\n\"students who found difficulty in adapting to the new atmosphere
\nof the university\".<\/p>\n
\"Some sessions are actually very interesting and can make the
\nclasses alive because they are not forced to listen to lectures,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
One way to keep them awake, she said, was by assigning them to
\nwrite papers.<\/p>\n
Students also admitted this method proved effective in keeping
\nthem attentive.<\/p>\n
\"During our high school, we didn't have to listen too much to
\nthe Pancasila court,but now we have no choice because we have
\nassignments to do and the classes are also much smaller,\" said
\nVera, a fresher student of the School of Social and Political
\nSciences.<\/p>",
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