Indonesia still struggling with ABCs of education

Leo Landep, Contributor, Jakarta, leolandep@yahoo.com

The Indonesian government is failing to uphold the Constitution.

That sentiment was not expressed by the late founding father of Indonesian education, Ki Hadjar Dewantara, who was famous for his struggles with the Dutch colonial government for fair laws, especially those relating to education for Indonesians.

In fact, it was no less than President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who, on Dewantara's birthday on May 2 -- celebrated as national Education Day -- said that after 60 years of independence the government was still unable to meet the constitutional requirement related to the amount of money spent on education.

The President also said the entire system of education, including providing at least nine years of free education for all children, school facilities and remuneration for teachers, had to be revamped immediately. The sad thing about all this, he added, is that Indonesia lags behind many countries as far as education and human resource is concerned.

If Dewantara -- Indonesia's first education minister -- was alive today, he would no doubt be exasperated with all of the problems besetting the country, like the corrupt and slow-moving bureaucracy and its handling of the future of the country's younger generations.

A great believer in education as a means to broaden one's horizons and improve intelligence, Dewantara would also be outraged at the way education is treated. In his day, naturally, education was a way to fight for freedom. Even today, in a broader sense of the word, it still is.

Dewantara set up Taman Siswa, the first Indonesian school, eventually grew into an education foundation, on July 22, 1922. Days before its establishment, he said: "We have attacked the enemy's fortress for quite some time now, so I think we should now build, as well, a strong one for ourselves."

It would be interesting to see how the great educator would use his skills, strategies and especially his wisdom to get things done in today's environment.

Because in his day he had to face a foreign government, the Dutch, it would be unfair to compare the results he obtained through the various methods and means available at the time with what could be accomplished today.

For example, the rapid growth of Taman Siswa to more than 100 branches throughout the nation, along with its magazines and radio station, was seen as a serious threat to the colonial authorities. A law on "wild" or "illegally established schools" was passed by the Dutch government not only to curb its growth but check its existence.

A fiery telegram Dewantara sent to the governor-general spurred nationwide support from various parties, religious societies, other indigenous schools and ethnic Chinese and Arab residents.

As a precautionary step, Dewantara also prepared a nationwide program to spread education even further: "Each person should teach himself and transfer knowledge to many others. Each house should become an educational institute."

After questioning by an Indonesian member of the legislature, the law on "illegally established schools" was annulled. This was only one of Dewantara's victories.

His greatest victory arrived when the country became independent on Aug. 17, 1945. For him, this meant not only becoming free of Dutch rule. It meant thinking, breathing, living in a totally free environment. For Dewantara and other like- minded Indonesians, their free minds and spirits knew no boundaries. And a proper education was obviously essential.

Besides being appointed as the very first minister of education, which was his top priority, Dewantara was also given no less than 14 other important positions.

After 60 years of independence, the relatively small number of reputable local schools and educational institutions that the country can boast of, together with some international schools that are on a par with schools in other countries, is a far cry from what Dewantara envisioned and fought for.

It is an embarrassment that in the 21st century, when many other countries take a free and quality education for granted, Indonesia is still struggling just to cure the basic "ailments" of its education system and seems at a loss to provide basic facilities and infrastructure. And all this while other sectors receive hefty budgets.

Would it help to remind everyone that the great man's spirit lives on? And that his almost single-handed efforts and sacrifices should not be wasted?