Higher education still perceived as status symbol

Higher education still perceived as status symbol

Hera Diani and
Moch. N. Kurniawan
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Andri Wongso, founder of Harvest Card, the Indonesian version of
Hallmark, was not prepared for the questions that came from
students at a recent career day held at state SMUN 35 high
school, Central Jakarta.

Andri had just finished telling his rags-to-riches story to a
total of 650 students from SMUN 7, SMUN 24 and SMUN 35 senior
high schools at an event arranged by General Electric. It was the
second such event staged by the company.

In a loud voice and with a firm tone, often asking students to
keep quiet, he revealed how hard work, honesty and other virtues
had landed him success, despite the fact that he had barely
graduated from elementary school.

Syahrul, 18, a senior at SMUN 35 high school, quickly
responded to Andri's remarks, saying that his father had always
been honest and a hard worker, yet his family remained
financially modest.

"Well, honest people are sometimes cheated, and it could
happen to anyone. That's the way to learn about life," Andri
said.

Although dissatisfied with the answer, Syahrul did not ask any
more questions. Later he told The Jakarta Post that he was
worried he could not get into university as his parents were in
financial trouble, which had left them unable to pay for his
university tuition.

"I really want to study psychology at Gadjah Mada University
(in Yogyakarta)," said the eldest of three siblings.

Apart from wanting to lead a better life by working for a
university degree, he said he wanted to prove something to his
mother's family, who often mocked his family for being none too
successful.

While his dream of obtaining a university degree is
noteworthy, Syahrul missed the whole point of the career day in
the first place: That not every high school graduate can or
should enter university. Instead, they may have other options,
such as obtaining a diploma or developing their entrepreneurial
skills.

Andri's experience was a perfect example, though, and so was
the experience of another speaker at the event, photographer
Achmad Budiman from the Asia Foundation, who had started from
nothing.

However, Syahrul's view is understandable, as most Indonesians
still perceive higher education to be a status symbol.

As society still clings to a feudal pattern whereby one's
achievement is determined by one's status rather than merit, it
is small wonder that most people think of a university degree as
a ticket to a more respected place in society.

As a result, nearly half a million senior high school
graduates compete each year for places at 46 state universities
across the country, while only about 20 percent of them will
enter.

Private universities with questionable credentials have
mushroomed, and, worse still, fake degrees can easily be obtained
through some institutions, as long as you have the money.

Rector of the University of Indonesia Usman Chatib Warsa said
that parents had to be prepared to change their opinion that
their children ought to go to university after graduating from
high school.

"Some children may have good skills rather than
intellectuality. They should aim for a diploma rather than a
university degree. If they were forced to enroll at university,
they might not be able to compete; thus their grades would be
disappointing," he told the Post.

The government, he added, ought to promote the view through
high schools that children could achieve their potential without
necessarily going to university.

"At the same time, the government should also establish more
polytechnics, which are still fewer in number than universities,"
he said.

Chatib also called on companies not to underestimate graduates
from polytechnics in their working environment, and provide them
with good remuneration and opportunities for career progression.

However, besides the perception that a degree confers self-
esteem and is a status symbol, the low minimum wage in this
country is another reason why people want to work for a
university degree in order to get a better job.

The provincial minimum wage in Jakarta, for example, is only
around Rp 600,000 per month, while living costs are a lot higher
than that. Under such circumstances high school graduates must
think of developing whatever entrepreneurial skills they might
possess.

According to SMUN 35 high school principal Suparmi, some
students were truly inspired by the first career day that they
started their own businesses after graduating, instead of going
on to higher education.

"I met some of them: They sell chickens at the market, or hire
out potted flowers. At least they have the motivation to do
something, and are not embarrassed to do so, either," she said.