Expert proposes integrating cooperative education into national curriculum
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Professor Euis Amalia of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta has proposed that cooperative education be integrated into the national education curriculum, from primary level to higher education, to strengthen the younger generation’s understanding of cooperative principles and practices.
The proposal was presented by Euis during a public hearing with Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) regarding input for the Cooperative Bill (RUU Perkoperasian) in Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to her, cooperative values have not yet been embedded in the national education system, necessitating steps to build an understanding of cooperatives from an early age.
“This is important to instil and provide an understanding of cooperatives from the start if we truly want to make cooperatives the soul or the main pillar of the national economy,” she said.
Euis believes that strengthening cooperative education is also vital to ensure the sustainability of the cooperative movement through a more structured regeneration of cooperative actors and drivers.
In addition to formal curricula, she encouraged the development of school cooperatives and student cooperatives as means for direct practical learning in cooperative management.
In her proposal, Euis desires the inclusion of an article regulating the integration of cooperative education within the Cooperative Bill, including the joint development of guidelines and teaching modules by the ministries in charge of education and cooperatives.
She also proposed that universities be encouraged to open study programmes, concentrations, or cooperative study centres that can function as research and incubation hubs for cooperative development.
Beyond cooperative education, Euis also suggested strengthening literacy aspects and the development of cooperative human resources (SDM).
According to her, one of the main challenges facing cooperatives today is the quality of human resources among managers, administrators, and supervisors, which does not yet fully meet the required competency standards, particularly in savings and loan cooperatives.
She proposed the establishment of a specialised competence certification body for cooperatives, referencing the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP) and the Indonesian National Work Competency Standards (SKKNI) in the cooperative field.
Euis added that such certification should become a prerequisite in the licensing process and performance assessment of cooperatives, especially for the managers, administrators, and supervisors of savings and loan cooperatives, including Islamic savings and financing cooperatives.
The Government and the DPR are currently discussing the Bill on the Fourth Amendment to Law Number 25 of 1992 concerning Cooperatives.
Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono stated that Law Number 25 of 1992, which currently serves as the legal basis for cooperatives, is deemed no longer fully relevant to modern developments and current economic dynamics.
“This is a great momentum for the nation to comprehensively reorganise cooperative life in Indonesia,” said Ferry during a working meeting with Commission VI of the DPR RI in Jakarta on Wednesday (17/6).