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.