[b]Putting education

Putting education
back on track

From Republika

The education sector faces an increasingly tough challenge.
School teachers, who are required to direct students according to
the aims of national education, find their efforts obscured by
negative external factors.

Moreover, the institution of education has now been
misrepresented by film producers, directors and teenage stars,
with a variety of schools being turned into settings for TV
dramas depicting ways of life that are completely opposed to the
nation's educational aims.

Such dramas "teach" students to live a luxury life, get
involved in gang feuds and "engage in free sex". In this way,
students become less inclined to accept the more humdrum
realities of their lives.

It is also difficult for teachers to motivate students to
pursue further study because lots of them are more interested in
joining talent contests in a bid to be successful by relying on
good looks and a fine voice, instead of deeper knowledge.

Therefore, I would like to appeal that youth education be put
back on track and that the institution of education has its
original function restored. In this case, the minister of
national education and the relevant House commission should
exercise proper control.

HARRY RACHMAD
Jakarta