British council, more than just a library

By Pandaya

JAKARTA (JP): Neil Kemp has kissed the Jakarta British Council goodbye but he knows he'll be back to Indonesia, where he has learned values and knowledge that have changed his cultural concepts.

Anyone who has ever lived in Indonesia will want to return after they have gone home, says Kemp, whose list of general interests include "walking and living in warm countries".

In a recent interview with The Jakarta Post, Kemp, who was accompanied by his successor, Richard P. Phillips, said he was lucky to be posted in Jakarta when he was, as he could witness democracy eventually finding its way in the country after more than three decades of authoritarian rule under former president Soeharto.

The changes took place so rapidly. Kemp can count himself as one of the few British Council officials to have worked under three Indonesian presidents.

Kemp, 55, a chemist by training, was lucky to have the chance in the course of his five-year term to not only work closely with the government and NGOs, but also see a lot of history in the making.

His most memorable experience was the final day of the 1999 election campaign, when thousands of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) supporters turned the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle into a sea of red, the party's color.

It was a powerful statement by people who had long been oppressed, he said.

Among the many activities under his charge, Kemp found the educational projects between Britain and Indonesia the most interesting.

He said education should be one of the highest priorities on the Indonesian government's agenda and stressed the need to reform the higher education system.

Kemp pointed out that as most of the education budget goes on teachers' salaries, Indonesia had little left to finance educational reforms.

"That's where we are sympathetic," he said.

The British Council, which started in Bandung in 1948, has played a pivotal role in cooperation between Indonesia and England in the fields of education, culture, governance and human rights.

Over the past few years, it has been aggressively marketing British schools to Indonesian students and professionals, realizing that Briton lags far behind the United States and Australia in attracting Indonesian students.

According to the council's statistics, in 1997 there were some 38,000 Indonesians studying abroad, of which only 2,500 were in the UK.

In his book Becaks, Blackboards and Beyond, Kemp likens the British Council to a "marriage broker": it introduces two parties and assists them during a period of courtship. Once the parties have established a united goal, they go in to a contract akin to "marriage".

"The British Council then steps back and watches the happy couple build up a lasting partnership," the book says.

Among educated urban dwellers, the British Council is well- known for its library and as a good place to occasionally see quality British films and art.

The dragging economic crisis has boosted the council's library membership as people's ability to buy English-language books has decreased.

In 1997 when the crisis started, membership stood at 8,627. In 1998, the number jumped to 9,527.

"The thirst for knowledge was evident on the first day the (Jakarta) library opened after the May 1998 riots. About 650 people flocked to it, double the daily average," Kemp noted.

He plans to continue with his commitment to education. Back home in Britain, he will begin a new senior management job in the education program at the British Council headquarters.

Kemp wrote Becaks, Blackboards and Beyond in conjunction with the council's 50th anniversary in Indonesia. Edited by John Aglionby, the book summarizes the history of the council's Indonesian office and highlights its activities.

"This is one of my best achievement if you want to know," he said laughing, handing over a freshly autographed copy.

The council's new boss in Jakarta, 50-year-old Richard Phillips -- who is also a chemist by training -- shares Kemp's passion for educational programs.

Phillips is determined to explore more areas where the council can be of service as well as continuing the good work of his predecessors, including cooperating with the education ministry, whose office is located just across the street.

Good luck, Mister.