Indonesia to introduce new education curriculum

Indonesia to introduce new education curriculum

JAKARTA (JP): Setting its sights on lifting national
scholastic aptitude to new standards, the government will
introduce a core education curriculum in the school year
beginning in July.

Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin said on Tuesday
the curriculum, which is part of a gradual overhaul of the
national education system, identified mathematics, Bahasa
Indonesia and general scientific knowledge as the core subjects.

He added that sweeping reforms in national education -- which
are expected to be completed in five years -- would reduce the
academic burden on students and free them to enjoy more
extracurricular activities.

"The idea is to squeeze down the number of classes to three
major subjects that actually cover all important aspects of
education."

In addition, students will study subjects tailored to the
particular demands and development of their local areas. Computer
studies and English, for example, could be a concentration in
tourist areas.

Since taking office in early November last year, Yahya, a
graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has often
expressed concern about the overloaded curriculum.

"The load of the recent curriculum has given our children
inadequate time to develop their creativity," Yahya said, noting
that students in other countries were not saddled with as many
classes as their Indonesian peers.

The current curriculum has raised persistent complaints since
it took effect in 1994. It consists of 10 compulsory subjects for
elementary and advanced school levels, with two local content
studies.

Yahya's announcement followed the popular saying "a new
education minister, a new curriculum".

When he took over from Juwono Sudarsono, Yahya ruled out
replacement of the present curriculum, saying he would instead
improve materials to support government efforts to produce
conscientious students.

The 1994 curriculum, which replaced one introduced in 1984,
followed the appointment of Wardiman Djojonegoro as the minister
of education and culture the same year.

Under the proposed 2000 curriculum, the ministry will also
concentrate on history, geography and moral instruction, which
will be part of general scientific knowledge.

"The three subjects are important in building the students'
character," Yahya said.

In history and geography classes, students will be provided
with supplementary materials which contain corrections,
summarization and clarification of outdated textbooks, he said.

Particularly for history, the supplementary materials will
cover only the facts, without offering analysis or conclusions.

Yahya said each region would be free to choose local content
studies that could help students develop resources in their
areas.

"In coastal areas, it will be better if the students have
training in maritime issues. While in the rural areas, maybe they
could be taught about agriculture."

To ensure maximum results from the new curriculum, Yahya said
he was considering a new teaching method focusing on greater
student participation in classes.

"The new method would be accompanied by teacher training,"
Yahya said. (04)