Redesign of educational systems needed: Expert

Redesign of educational systems needed: Expert

JAKARTA (JP): An expert suggested that Asia-Pacific countries
redesign their educational systems so that they give more
attention toward the element of emotion in the learning process.

Henry S. Tenedero of the Manila-based Center for Learning and
Teaching Styles made the suggestion during a break at a seminar
on the newly introduced concept of the emotional intelligence
quotient (EQ) yesterday.

Emotional intelligence, another human resource strength
besides the traditional IQ (intelligence quotient) potential, is
important for the development of human resources that are needed
for globalization, he said.

Tenedero cited the region's rapid economic growth as one of
the reasons why it should adjust its educational systems.

The concept of EQ, whose creator Daniel Goleman argued is more
of a predictor of success than IQ, is needed to redesign the
region's methods of teaching and learning, Tenedero said.

He described the importance of emotions in terms of maximizing
one's productivity, and his center's campaign was not to reject
the concept of IQ but to "give IQ a heart".

Tenedero was trained at St. John's University in Jamaica, New
York -- which is also home to the International Learning Styles
Network, to which Tenedero's center is also affiliated.

His doctoral dissertation was titled Breaking the IQ Myth
Learning Styles. Multiple Emotional Intelligence in the Learning
Environment.

"There's no point for a country to have students who graduate
with honors without solid emotions," he said. He cited Bill
Gates, the world-renowned tycoon and owner of Microsoft, who
dropped out of Harvard University but later became the world's
richest man.

"A classic example would be Albert Einstein, who at nine was
never eloquent, but was later able to master his creativity," he
added.

He said the current paradigm, which says that people are
intelligent if they score high on the IQ scale, should be changed
to one that encourages the belief that everyone can be
intelligent.

"Nobody is stupid, unless the problem is clinical by nature.
Everybody has the potential to succeed in life," he said. "But a
school system has to create a (favorable) environment."

The seminar, titled "Emotional Intelligence: Alternative for
Success in the 21st Century", was sponsored and organized by
Tarumanegara University with about 50 people participating who
were mostly university teachers.

Tenedero acknowledged the difficulties in redesigning entire
educational systems in countries in the Asia-Pacific region,
particularly in Indonesia.

"It needs time ... to change the traditional education
paradigm that is IQ-centered that has been rooted for almost 100
years," he said.

"It will certainly take leadership of the school system, the
support of the ministries of education ... because the proposed
change will meet resistance," Tenedero said. (aan)