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)