Kids must be taught to compete in school
Kids must be taught to compete in school
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro says children should be taught to compete in school as early as possible.
Teachers and parents should try to instill a competitive spirit in children to prepare them for their future, Wardiman said on Saturday after launching a national creativity contest for kindergarten and primary school teachers and pupils.
They should be taught to avoid complacency, he said, adding that parents should not hesitate to make their children study harder.
Wardiman was responding to parental concerns with the increasing school pressure faced by children today. Because of the fierce competition, many are having to take lessons outside of school hours just to keep up.
In addition, parents are questioning the policy of publicly announcing class rankings. Those who oppose it say the ranking system puts too much pressure on children, while supporters believe that the added competition is healthy.
A number of schools have dropped the ranking policy under pressure from parent-teacher associations.
Wardiman acknowledged the pressure and stress experienced by children but underlined his belief that competition is critical to their futures. "Only students who are competitive and are never complacent will survive," he said.
Wardiman said a lack of competitive spirit here has resulted in numerous local firms filling positions with expatriates.
Citing the computer field, Wardiman said that Indonesia has at least 20,000 graduates and another 100,000 students studying at 26 computer schools. However, many positions for computer experts have gone to foreigners, who are better qualified and more competitive.
Unless children are taught to compete, more and more key jobs in Indonesia could go to foreigners in the future, he said. "That's why we have to work harder."
As for the next step, Wardiman said the government plans to introduce "superior classes" for gifted and talented students at some 20,000 designated primary schools.
Each school, called a core school, will run special classes for superior fourth, fifth and six graders selected from seven schools in its vicinity.
The pupils will be given extra lessons and more rigorous teaching in mathematics, natural sciences and English. They will also have better teachers.
The government is currently running a pilot project for the program in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan.
The creativity contest, which was opened on Saturday, includes story writing, story telling, art and drawing as well as quizzes in mathematics and natural sciences.
The competition involves teachers and pupils from 20 kindergartens, 159 elementary schools and 36 schools for the disabled and runs until March 13. (31)