Mastery of English

"English has been a mandatory school subject for more than half a century. However, all of us are not yet satisfied with the students' mastery of the language", wrote The Jakarta Post on Sept. 25, 1999. This irony reveals the benchmark of a drastic decline in Indonesian education.

When students fail to master English, it is the teachers who are to blame. However, there is a tendency to blame other people. Setbacks to education are not only related to teachers, but are also attributable to unprofessional curriculum designers and a low standard of school management.

Let us improve the unsatisfactory quality of our education. One way to do this is through mastery of the English language, which is particularly true in this era of globalization.

ANSELMUS SUDIRMAN

Yogyakarta