Better education system: A key to success

Pasca-Indonesia Pasca-Einstein: Esei-esei tentang Kebudayaan Indonesia Abad ke-21 (Post Indonesia, Post Einstein, Essays on Indonesian Culture for 21st Century); By Y.B. Mangunwijaya; Kanisius, Yogyakarta, 1999; 335 pages

JAKARTA (JP): Y.B. Mangunwijaya was a Catholic priest and national figure who was concerned with poor people. He was known as one who always struggled for the truth and who defended the poor who were oppressed by those in power or who had to suffer for the sake of the interests of certain groups. Even though he was a Catholic priest he never brought up the issue of religion. He based his work on an understanding of universal humanity. His role in community development along the Code river in Yogyakarta and in the defense of people who were forced to give up their land to make way for the construction of Kedung Ombo dam in Central Java, proved his concerns.

Romo (Father) Mangun - that's how he was fondly called - gave his life not only to the poor. He was also concerned with broader issues, such as culture and the future of the nation. There was an interesting issue left by Romo Mangun, who died in February this year. That is, how to prepare a qualified generation, equipped to face the third millennium, as outlined in his book Pasca-Indonesia Pasca-Einstein: Esei-Esei tentang Kebudayaan Indonesia Abad ke-21.

Romo Mangun believed that qualified human resources of the future nation would not come naturally. People must be taught from scratch. And it is in the education system that the teaching must come. Why? Because education has a central place in preparing the quality of human resources. But Romo Mangun tells us that this would not work if we maintain the current education system, which is based on a static way of thinking, monologue and memorizing. Such a system could only produce yes-men. Romo Mangun suggested that such a system should be abandoned. Education must be able to prepare men and women who have creative thinking, who are innovative and explorative; not people who are good at memorizing and copying.

The problem is how to establish people with such characteristics. Another question is what things must be done to the schooling system so that such human resources can be produced? According to Mangunwijaya, there is no other way than creating a climate that is conducive to open dialog and democracy in the teaching and learning process. Democracy guarantees the human rights of every citizen, and similarly, such values must also be applied in education. Which means that we must create an education system which is fun and guarantees the freedom of expression and which acknowledges the identity of the students as subjects in the learning process. Therefore, teachers must change their role, from preaching to activating the students; changing their habit of punishing students to encouraging them; from scolding them to praising them. They should not be the sole decision maker, but become a partner for the students.

All of the above matters need serious attention, according to Romo Mangun, because the function of education is not just to develop the cognitive dimension, but also to develop the individuality of the students. So, education should not just make students know many facts and figures. It should be able to stimulate their thinking and reasoning, their creativity and their feeling, so that they can produce something in accordance with their ability; and to ignite their social sensitivity and moral conscience. Such characteristics need to be created by the education system to face the third millennium.

The book is one of 10 books published by Kanisius in observance of the 100th day of Romo Mangun's death. It contains 24 articles, categorized into two main groups: the character of Indonesians in the 21st century and the impact of science and technology on human life.

Romo Mangun said that the development of science and technology was not without negative impacts. And, he elaborated, such impacts had the potential to destroy human life if they were not prevented. Therefore, he warned scientists and technocrats to maintain the basic essence of science and technology: that is to develop human life, not the other way around. Why? Because human values could not be separated from the essence of science and technology.

Two basic problems above still need to be addressed. Therefore the book is quite relevant. Whoever is concerned with the future of the nation, whether it be politics, culture or education, should read this book.

-- Kasdin Sihotang

The reviewer is a lecturer at Atma Jaya University, Jakarta.