Increase all teachers' salary: Children
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
"Security is the most important thing. Without it, people will not be able to go about their activities, or even to go out of their houses, or go to school ...," says M. Zulqisti, a six-grade student from conflict-torn Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.
Ceisar Yudhistira from the Bhayangkari 2 public school in Banten wondered why so many people wanted to become president in the recent elections.
"Being a class captain is difficult enough; what about leading a nation of 200 million people? Were they only looking for popularity or position?" read Ceisar's essay on leadership.
"(Being president) means being known wherever he goes, always being welcomed, and getting everything for free. However, I hope my future president will not just be contented with that. He must be clear, fair and must want to listen to people's aspirations and want to admit his mistakes," said Ceisar.
Zulqisti and Ceisar were two of 50 children aged between 10 and 12 years old participating in the 2004 Children's Conference organized by children's magazine Bobo from Dec. 1 to 4. The children came from a variety of social backgrounds from different parts of the country.
This year's conference, the fourth, took the theme "If I was the president".
"We picked this special theme because we have a new president who was elected through a democratic election for the very first time," said children's education expert Henny Supolo Sitepu.
President Susolo Bambang Yudhoyono, who took his oath of office last Oct. 20, was elected after a peaceful election last Sept. 20.
Focusing on two main topics of education and security, the four-day conference tried to formulate the main problems of both issues and put them into the 2004 Children's Declaration.
On education, the children highlighted the importance of teacher's welfare and training. Henny told the Post that a child had said that he had been taught by teachers who were not well- trained.
"He understood that the teachers were not bad, but that education could make them better," said Henny.
The children agreed that if they were the president they would increase teacher's salary and give them more training.
On security the children underlined the importance of having security officers who were honest, and who worked well in an integrated and well-coordinated fashion.
"Getting rid of bribe-able police" became one of the points on security declaration made at the closing of the conference on Saturday morning.
The 2004 Children's Declaration was handed to Presidential spokesman Andi Alfian Mallarangeng, who said he would deliver it to the President himself.
"Leadership should start with small things," said Andi.
Through the short discussion between Andi and the children, several interesting issues were raised.
A child asked what the country would be like without any corruption. Andi replied that school roofs would not suddenly collapse (because of sub-standard construction), as once happened at Ceisar's school.
Risha Emyta from the public school SDN Bambu Apus 06 Pagi, East Jakarta, asked Andi why there were a lot of terrorists in the country.
"Is it because we lack police personnel?" asked Risha.
"Terrorists are sick people who enjoy watching others suffer. Enhancing the quality of education is a way to prevent terrorism in the future," said Andi.
According to Andi, most of those in detention for terrorism offenses were those who were under-educated and narrow-minded.
After following the four-day conference, most children said that they had a better understanding of leadership.
At the opening of the conference last Wednesday, Daniel Meidian Dicky Bahari from the Immanuel Christian Elementary School, Situbondo, East Java told the Post that he wanted to be president.
"Being president is cool, being guarded everywhere, people always waiting for him," said Daniel.
However, by the time of the closing ceremony Daniel had already changed his mind.
"Being president might be too difficult. I want to be a journalist instead."