Plenty of choices in IT education in RI

By Zatni Arbi

JAKARTA (JP): Quality computer education has always been one of my main concerns. It is so obvious that, although personal computers can be found everywhere, their utilization is still very limited in general. It is really sad to see expensive Pentium computers being used only as a glorified typewriter -- to borrow a term frequently used by senior researcher Melly G. Tan.

Clearly, as we continue to embrace information technology, we should prepare people to make optimum use of these costly machines' capabilities.

Aside from deriving maximum benefits from the technology, a scarcity of skilled information technology professionals has also been a serious problem. Although the problem exists worldwide, the lack of such professionals in Indonesia has forced some information technology companies to delay starting a representative office here.

This seems to contradict the fact that computer courses are being offered everywhere. Even our elementary schools have added computer lessons to their curricula, a decision based more on business objectives than educational goals.

As anybody can guess, the schools' inclusion of computer classes has resulted in added burdens to students, to say the least.

These issues peaked my curiosity. So I sought out people from major computer educational centers here to talk with them about their institutions. Two such centers were gracious enough to let me come and ask them some questions.

The first center was Widyaloka, where I had a long conversation with Pak Djoni Oentoro, of YPIP-NIIT, where I met Mr. Sandeep Godkhindi.

YPIP stands for Yayasan Pendidikan Ilmu Pengetahuan, and it is a licensee of NIIT, the sixth largest information technology company in India providing computer training and software solution businesses.

Choice

Finding a computer education center in your neighborhood should not be very difficult nowadays. A wide range of choices are also available, allowing you to be able to attend an Indonesian computer education center or a foreign affiliated centers.

Widyaloka has been around since 1983, and it claims to be the largest network of computer education centers in Southeast Asia, with branches and franchises found in 31 places throughout the country, from Medan to Manado.

What makes me feel like I have a personal attachment to Widyaloka is the fact that it has a franchise in Payakumbuh, a tiny little town in West Sumatra where I spent the first 15 years of my life.

But there is more to it than just a childhood memory. The availability of such a computer education center in Payakumbuh, which is still a lovely small town today, also proves that the need for computer education has reached deep into the countryside.

There are other home-grown education centers besides Widyaloka, and there are also franchises from other countries. YPIP-NIIT, Informatics and Executrain are just some of them, and more can be expected to arrive here later in anticipation of the country's economic rebound.

The success of an education center hinges also on its location. Widyaloka has a center in the Duta Merlin complex in Central Jakarta. It is a good choice because students from all parts of Jakarta can find a direct bus route to get there, although traffic jams can make it quite tough.

But Widyaloka has other locations in West, East and North Jakarta as well.

Its classrooms in the Duta Merlin complex are quiet, clean and comfortable, while some are equipped with expensive In-Focus projectors.

"We have to provide the best equipment to facilitate the learning process," explained Djoni. There is no theory lesson. Students instead immediately interface with the computer. This is exactly how computer skills should be taught.

Of course, as things happen on their computers, the instructor explains whatever is going on.

"We started with Apple II computers, but now all of our classes have Pentium 166 MHz machines," explained Djoni.

Private lesson

Those needing in-house training can also request trainers from Widyaloka to come to their offices. And big bosses who do not want to look stupid in front of their classmates can request private lessons.

"Our relationship with the students doesn't stop after the class is over," added Djoni. "If they have questions, they can call or fax them to us, and our instructors will find the right answers for them."

Unlike the 15-year old Widyaloka, YPIP-NIIT International Information Technology Center is a new kid on the block.

The center started last September with its first campus located in Cipete, South Jakarta.

I was pleasantly surprised with their building. Designed like a mansion, the school is quite isolated from the busy and noisy street of Jl. R.S. Fatmawati.

Both Widyaloka and YPIP-NIIT use Indonesian as their standard teaching language. Expat students, however, can also be accommodated with a staff of instructors who can speak English fluently and can give clear instructions in English.

Materials in YPIP-NIIT are originally in English. "We translate all the materials that we bring in from India into Indonesian so that local students can understand them," explained Sandeep while showing me booklets used for their classes.

"At first, we had some problems with the translation process. The translator even translated `MS Word' into `MS Kata'," he said.

Next week we will look at the courses that these two centers offer and the instructors that they have.