House member asks govt to change education system
House member asks govt to change education system
JAKARTA (JP): A House of Representatives member urged the
government to overhaul the current education system to meet the
demand for more skilled workers in the future.
Iskandar Mandji, quoting data from the Ministry of Manpower,
said changes in the education system were necessary because
unskilled workers still accounted for 77.2 percent of the
nation's work force, as Indonesia prepares to enter the regional
free trade era in 2003.
He said if the education system is left unchanged, in 20
years, an estimated 65.3 percent of Indonesia's work force will
be unskilled, when Indonesia is part of the global free trade
area.
"The data means that in the future, during the free trade era,
most of our workers will be unskilled ... this is very sad,"
Iskandar said in a meeting with Minister of Manpower Abdul
Latief.
"The most feasible way to improve the situation is by changing
the current education system," he said.
The ministry's data suggests that until 2004, only 3.3 percent
of Indonesia's work force could become top managers, 4.4 percent
middle-level managers and 14.6 percent operators.
In 20 years, top managers will represent 4.1 percent of
Indonesia's work force, middle-level managers, 10.9 percent and
operators, 19.5 percent.
Iskandar suggested that the minister of manpower and the
minister of education and culture should find a new education
approach to produce skilled workers. "Our curriculum is very
poor," Iskandar said.
He said that the national curriculum does not encourage
students to study and work hard.
For instance, he said, elementary school students in Japan are
taught that their country is poor and has no natural resources.
But here, the students are told that Indonesia is a very rich
country with abundant natural resources.
"Our education system gives students the impression that they
don't have to work hard to become better-off because they're rich
anyway," Iskandar said.
The government's link-and-match approach that promotes
cooperation between schools and industry is not sufficient to
improve the situation, he said.
In addition, he urged the government to reform the current
labor system.
"The reformation not only pertains to workers' training, but
also the legislation, payment system and worker protection,"
Iskandar said.
In the meeting, Iskandar questioned the effectiveness of the
government's effort to adjust workers' vocational training to the
investment trend.
Most local investment is in five sectors: paper, chemical,
services, textiles and plantation. Foreign investment is mostly
in the chemical and metal industries and mining and offices, he
said.
"Unfortunately, most of the skilled workers in these sectors
are foreign workers," Iskandar said. He said he did not believe
the number of foreign workers was only 50,000, as recorded.
Abdul Latief said he agreed with Iskandar's suggestions.
He promised he would meet with the minister of education and
culture to discuss a better education system to prepare more
skilled workers in the future.
He also agreed to the idea of improving labor conditions in
Indonesia. (ste)