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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