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)