Dogmatic religious instruction undesirable

Dogmatic religious instruction undesirable

National Education Day which falls on May 2 is marked this
year by the continuing acrimonious debate on the national
education bill, especially the contentious article that requires
that students receive religious instruction according to their
faith from teachers who are of the same religion. Mohamad Surya,
a former chairman of the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI),
shared his opinions about national education with The Jakarta
Post's Soeryo Winoto.

Question: What's the real meaning of National Education Day?

Answer: National Education Day dates back to the struggle
against the Dutch colonial regime through education. May 2 was
the birthday of Ki Hajar Dewantara, one of the noted scholars who
were against the Dutch ...

We must give priority to education. We have been left behind
by other nations in this regard.

We must observe National Education Day ... by finding out our
own weaknesses, strengths and constraints, and planning
improvements ... In this way we will be able to achieve the
founding fathers' goal of making the nation better educated in
all fields, including political and social affairs.

Q: How do you see the development of our national education
system, especially at the elementary level?

A: It is true that the development of our education is still
unsatisfactory. Elementary education has never been given
priority by the government. Compulsory (elementary) education is
not being properly implemented. The government's political will
does not extend to providing school-age children with adequate
access to elementary education, which is the foundation for
further formal education.

The result is that our children's elementary education is
deficient. Now, the children of well-off families or children
living in big cities have better access to elementary education
than the of children of poor families living in remote areas.
Equality (of access to elementary education) is a must.

Q: What should the purpose of education be?

A: Education is needed for the development of human resources. A
nation can improve its life through education. However, education
has yet to be spread equally ... The question is to what extent
decision makers strive to make elementary education a top
priority. Teachers are part of the education system. Have
teachers been taken care of properly by the government?

Q: Is our current education system on the right track or on the
brink of collapse?

A: Failure is something subjective. I see efforts being made to
improve the system and endeavors to improve the management of
education. But, that's all. It's all at the discourse stage
without any real or concrete steps being taken. The improvement
of the national education system must begin with the teachers,
the classrooms, libraries and then management. How can we talk
about good education if we have no qualified, properly paid
teachers, and no clean and suitable classrooms? Teachers and
classrooms are at the front line of the education system.

Q: How do you see the quality of our teachers?

A: People may say that our teachers are inferior. Yet, we have
failed to establish a proper training system for teachers. Being
a teacher is no longer something to be proud of.

Financially the job is not attractive. Thus, many teachers
spend most of their time trying to get enough money to feed their
families.

We need a different managerial system for teachers to make the
profession culturally, economically and socially more
interesting.

Q: What are your views on the national education bill, the
deliberation of which should have started on May 2?

A: There must be a balance between the political and educational
content of the bill. There must be compromise in this regard.

The definition of the purpose of education -- according to the
bill -- is too complicated and theoretical.

The points on religious instruction are also contentious.
Religious instruction for students (at all levels) must not stray
from the basic needs of education.

The House of Representatives should not be in a hurry to pass
the bill into law. A bill is a political product. That's why it
must be carefully examined before it is implemented. The
pedagogical messages in the bill must be able to be implemented
easily once the bill is passed into law.

Q: To what extent do elementary school students need religious
instruction? What about the teaching of morals and character-
building?

A: Religious instruction, morals and character-building should be
united in one package. Dogmatic (religious) instruction is not
desirable. Learning religious verses by heart is not necessary.
The students need to receive religious instruction that is
related to the practical things in their lives. Religion must be
imparted as a comprehensive system.

The role of parents is a must in encouraging the awareness of
students of religion and its application in their daily lives.

Q: What do elementary school students really need, religious
education or religious instruction?

A: Religious education has a broader horizon. In acquiring
religious education, children need models at home, while
religious instruction is simpler; it is currently concerned only
with rituals.

It all depends on the teacher. Religious instruction should be
deeper and it should strongly relate to the practical things in
life. Qualified teachers are needed. Therefore parents and
teachers must compliment each other. Parents must function as
teachers at home and teachers must function as parents at school.