'Eagle never teaches eaglets to fly too early'

Soeryo Winoto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

There can be few issues as important to parents as the education of their children. Parents the world over want to provide their children with the best possible education, to give them every opportunity to succeed in life.

But how young is too young to send children to school? That is a matter of some debate, with experts divided over the issue of preschools and play-groups.

An eagle would never teach its eaglets to fly too early, says veteran psychologist Sartono Mukadis.

"Sending children to preschool is -- actually -- (psychologically) torturing them. How can children under the age of five remember all the things teachers give them every day?" Sartono said. "I am among those who oppose such an educational system."

In education, we know that there is a law of readiness, he explained.

"When children are not yet ready to follow lessons and accept information and such, they will be passive or look unintelligent. And we as parents must not force children to try and understand (lessons or information). Whenever they are ready, things will be naturally smooth."

Preschools and play-groups have been mushrooming in big cities across the country, indicating the enthusiasm with which people have greeted them.

"It's a matter of business, not education," said Sartono. "The market is there because many parents are consumeristic. They are proud to send their children to preschools. The higher the tuition, the prouder they are."

"Many people cynically say that it is the parents who enjoy preschool, not the children," Sartono said.

Some preschools and play-groups "teach" their students English and the basics of arithmetic, just to demonstrate their "sophistication" and to attract more customers, he said.

And many of the schools located in prestigious residential and business areas charge parents a huge amount of money for their children's "education".

"Preschools and play-groups are not schools. It is just a coincidence that such institutions -- or whatever they are -- use the word 'school' in their names. They are just places where children spend their time playing and learning to interact with people from outside their families," Sartono, who is based in Batam, Riau, said.

He recalled that then minister of education and culture Fuad Hassan issued a decree that elementary schools are not allowed to give students "entrance exams", like reading.

"This means that pre-elementary-school-age children should not learn anything (English, reading, arithmetic) before beginning their formal schooling at the age of seven."

According to Sartono, giving children "advanced" lessons prevents them from picking up the basic things that they should be learning based on their age and ability.

"Let things proceed step-by-step. Many people just think about the final results, ignoring the normal learning process," he said.

However, noted child psychologist Seto Mulyadi says children can learn and follow lessons if they feel comfortable.

"First, the teachers must be aware of what children that age want. Create a good mood and atmosphere, make them happy before giving them 'lessons'. If the right conditions are created, children will follow the 'lessons' easily and will enjoy them. The point is not what the teachers teach the children, but how they teach them."

Preschools and play-groups, he said, must offer good education programs and concepts.

Seto, known as Kak (Brother) Seto to the children he works with, said there was no taboo against teachers at preschools or play-groups telling stories of "foreign figures" or teaching children "foreign cultures or habits", but they should bring the children back to their own soil, where they do their daily activities.

"Children must learn politeness. They should now how to apologize and say thank you. It is very important to teach them such basic things about daily life."

Preschools are established for two reasons, according to Seto.

"First, the idealism and awareness that children at that age need professional and proper guidance to develop. The second reason is business," said Seto, who is the chairman of the Mutiara Indonesia Foundation, which manages a number of play- groups and kindergartens in Jakarta.

Speaking of business, he said, the public is the ultimate determiner of which preschools and play-groups survive and which fold.

"They have the right to choose what they think is best. Nothing wrong with that. The accreditation of play-groups and preschools is done by the market. Those which are not qualified will gradually be phased out."