Good education not for the rich only

Good education not for the rich only

Is good education for the rich only? (The Jakarta Post,
April 29, 2001) is an interesting question for me regarding an
education issue today.

In my opinion, however, good education should be perceived not
only in terms of hardware (school facilities) but, most
importantly, in terms of software (motivation and intelligence).
This is a crucial issue, especially for poor people.

Rose and J. Nicholl (1997) have pointed out that average
students can be successful in school, as long as they fully and
tactfully subscribe to the following learning strategies:

First, learning is a lifelong adventure and we must never
stop learning and implementing what we learn;

Second, we need changes, both in what is learned and in how it
is learned (innovative strategies). This is due to the rapid era
of globalization requiring all of us to be always up to date in
educational processes;

Third, we have to able be to radically turn facts into
personal meaning, which is the central element in learning; and

Finally, we have to adopt a resourceful state of mind, being
relaxed, confident and motivated. Note that, only when our mind
is within a stress-free environment we can think about our
lessons creatively and critically.

Hence, students who are economically advantaged cannot always
be assured of becoming a successful graduate, considering the
fact that learning is psychologically facilitating connections
between neurons in our brain.

ODO FADLOELI

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