Government told to refocus on education trilogy

Government told to refocus on education trilogy

JAKARTA (JP): The celebration of National Teacher's Day and
the 55th anniversary of the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI) on
Saturday was marked with a call to refocus on the teaching of the
big three of morals, science and technology and reading.

"It is time for us to wake up from the crisis and improve our
education system," Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin
said in a written address carried by state television station
TVRI.

Teachers, along with parents, are the moral patrons of
children, he said.

"What we say and do affects our children, therefore we have to
set concrete and good examples for them. This includes not using
violence or forcing our will on others," Yahya said.

Earlier, the minister called for improvements in the quality
of education, and less stress on subjects such as ideology and
civics.

The ministry's main aim now is a substantial improvement in
the quality of elementary and secondary education. The same also
goes for universities, he said.

Yahya said elementary and secondary schools should concentrate
on three main elements, namely morals, writing and reading, as
well as basic sciences such as mathematics.

Elementary and secondary school students do not require too
many lessons on ideology or civic affairs, he said.

"They need a dynamic curriculum that fits their needs and
contains lessons that can help them master basic knowledge and
sciences," Yahya said.

Separately, PGRI chairman Muhammad Surya said improving the
welfare of the country's some 2.2 million teachers was still a
major concern.

"So far, 1.6 million teachers have joined PGRI. We are glad
that the current administration and the House of Representatives
(DPR) are much more sensitive to this issue," he told The Jakarta
Post on Saturday.

"PGRI and the ministry are in the process of drafting a bill
on the rights and protection of teachers. We hope to submit the
draft to the DPR early next year," Surya said.

Also, in accordance with the International Day Against
Violence Against Women, which also falls on Nov. 25, Surya said
PGRI, the Office of the State Minister of Women's Empowerment and
the Ministry of National Education had formed a cooperation to
teach gender awareness in the schools.

"The most important thing is for teachers to use the right
method to promote an equal relationship between males and
females. We don't have to change the textbooks since it would be
too expensive.

"Simple, concrete examples are important to children. Teachers
must give equal opportunity to boys and girls, as basically men
and women are only different in a biological context, not in
their mental capabilities," Surya said.

National Teacher's Day will only be officially commemorated on
Sunday at Merdeka Palace in a ceremony scheduled to be presided
over by President Abdurrahman Wahid. (edt)