Military school focuses on sociopolitical sciences
Military school focuses on sociopolitical sciences
JAKARTA (JP): The Military Academy (Akabri), the country's
only school for prospective Armed Forces leaders, is continually
innovating its educational system to keep up with military
technology and global challenges, the academy's commandant
general said yesterday.
Maj. Gen. Purwantono, commandant general of the Magelang-
based academy, said: "We evaluate and adjust the academy's
education system annually,"
In an interview with The Jakarta Post, in relation to the
Armed Forces' 51th anniversary that falls today, Purwantono said
that 40 percent of the academy curriculum dealt with non-military
sciences.
"Now that the Armed Forces' role in sociopolitical affairs is
increasing, we give high priority to subjects on social and
political sciences," he said.
The academy applies strict discipline to maintain the good
quality of its graduates. It would not hesitate to expel cadets
found violating rules during their education, he said.
Last year, the academy dishonorably discharged 11 first-and
second-year cadets for falsifying their final exam scores when
they enrolled at the academy. They included nine cadet sergeant
majors and two cadet corporals.
A year earlier the academy expelled 13 cadets for the same
offense.
Purwantono denied allegations that bribery was common during
enrollments. He said that cases of bribery usually involved
outsiders acting as brokers, who had nothing to do with the
enrollment committee.
"Parents have to keep in mind that it would be useless to
bribe a committee member because screening involves a lot of
officials in many test stages," he said.
"Anyone wanting to bribe would have to have an unbelievably
large sum of money, while there is no guarantee that the
candidate would be admitted," he said.
Nor would academy officials consider personal notes from
senior officers wanting their relatives admitted to the school,
Purwantono said.
However, there were some senior military officials who had the
prerogative to ask that certain applicants be admitted. They are
the Armed Forces Commander and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air
Force and police.
"The senior officials will have to make sure that their
candidates have all the qualifications required by the academy,"
Purwantono said.
To gain a better understanding and knowledge of military
technology and education systems in other countries, the academy
has sent some cadets to foreign military academies to take part
in cadet exchange programs.
The countries with exchange programs include the United
States, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia.
"We are arranging an exchange program with Turkey," he said.
(imn)