Dangerous degrees

Dangerous degrees

It is well-known in Medan and I'm sure also in the rest of
Indonesia, that it's easy to obtain a university degree or
diploma in Indonesia. There are of course many students who gain
their degrees by honest hard work, but how can potential
employers know who has genuinely earned their degrees.

We can only be sure that those students who graduated overseas
have actually received proper training and obtained their degrees
honestly. In my profession as a scientist, I have worked with
Indonesian science graduates and I've been shocked by the huge
differences between individuals -- some have a reasonable basic
understanding of science, but there are many who have almost no
comprehension of the science of which they hold degrees.

These "degrees" become dangerous when the holders of degrees
are responsible for other people's lives, especially in the case
of medical doctors. All too often, I hear of cases of patients
dying because of errors by incompetent doctors and such cases are
often aired on Indonesian TV. One often hears the saying, "we
learn best from our mistakes", but in the case of medical
doctors, it is not appropriate that doctors learn from their
mistakes as their mistakes can kill.

There are many fine looking, well-equipped hospitals in
Indonesia, but they're only as good as the doctors who work there
and how can the ordinary person know which doctor is properly
qualified. It is very obvious that most of the Indonesian public
have no confidence in the Indonesian medical profession, as all
the people who can afford reliable and safe medical treatment
simply fly off to Malaysia and Singapore.

Education is the key to the development of Indonesia, to take
the country out of its "third-world status". To develope a world
respected educational system requires strong and genuine support
from the Indonesian goverment. Such a change would take many
decades to achieve, but the benefits to the nation would be
immense and it would encourage overseas investment. With such
investment, there would be no need for the millions of workers,
who have to leave their familiies in Indonesia, while they work
overseas in countries such as Malaysia and, in turn, add to the
economy of the country where they work.

LESLIE MARTIN BARCLAY
Shah Alam
Malaysia