RI society is facing a crisis of confidence

RI society is facing a crisis of confidence

Ardimas Sasdi, Jakarta

Police raided a Jakarta-based educational institute last week
and found that the institution had awarded bogus academic titles
to well over 2,000 people. But the most bizarre aspect of this
matter are the backgrounds of the recipients.

Listed as recipients, according to police, are a former vice
president, former Cabinet ministers, senior police officers and
religious leaders -- people who are idolized in our hierarchical
society.

This shameful story only strengthens the public perception
that our society is suffering from a serious moral crisis. Some
people justify any means to reach their goals, even though they
go against norms, values and conscience.

Bogus academic titles are not a new phenomena, and neither are
they exclusive to Indonesia, but this event is unusual because of
the large number of recipients involved and their prominent
status in society. The issue is also not conducive towards our
goals of creating a healthy, competitive system in our society.

Worse, not only could further erode the confidence of
foreigners in us, but it could also wipe out any pride
Indonesians may have had in the areas of academic achievement. We
continue to be regularly outshined by our neighbors such as
Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Indeed a professor cum mentor at a university expressed his
concern to the writer last year about a report in a noted U.S.
media outlet that a former vice president of Indonesia had a
bogus academic title. In a humiliating conclusion, the American
daily linked the use of bogus titles in Indonesia with the
prolonged financial crisis and unclear directions in our economy.

The questionable academic titles included undergraduate
degrees, master's degrees and doctorates in various disciplines,
and came into the spotlight recently after Vice President Jusuf
Kalla questioned the validity of academic titles of officials in
the regencies, mayoralties and provinces.

The Vice President's suspicion was not without reason.
Theoretically, it is difficult for busy people like mayors,
regents and governors to sit in classrooms, read difficult
textbooks and do homework like regular students.

Following up on the Vice President's concern, the Ministry of
National Education placed advertisements with several TV
stations. One scene in an advertisement shows Minister of
National Education Bambang Sudibyo warning the public that both
recipients and givers of fake degrees, which cost around Rp 10
million (US$1,000), could be sentenced to five years in jail or
fined Rp 500 million.

Naturally, getting reliable data on the numbers of holders of
fake academic titles is difficult, but the number is certainly
much higher than the figure released by police. Dozens of
politicians, who last year joined contested seats in the regional
legislative councils, for instance, have had their ambitions
dashed because they used bogus academic titles or school
certificates.

Under the law, members of the regional legislative councils
must have a minimum secondary education, but many politicians in
the regions do not have high school certificates, much less
academic titles.

The motivations of people in acquiring fake academic titles
is, however, not singular. Some people occupying higher echelons
in the government and the military/police bought academic degrees
thinking that these would help them advance their careers.

Unlike in developed countries where achievements come before
academic degrees, in Indonesia an academic degree is crucial for
promotion to higher positions as well as being a potent symbol of
social status and success. Thus no wonder why many people put a
line of degrees like Drs. Anu, MM, MBA or Dr. Ir. Badu. MEg, MSc
after their names. Some may well be fake.

But in our system that is full of contradictions, people with
a so-so education or those with bogus titles usually occupy key
and "wet" posts, while smart people with good degrees from the
best universities, are sidelined, occupying less important and
"dry" positions. "Wet" and "dry" in this case refers to a post's
potential to generate illicit additional income.

This situation occurred because people in high office, who
make decisions on promotions, cannot take criticism from their
subordinates.

The most annoying aspect about fake academic titles is that it
clearly indicates that our society is suffering from a crisis of
confidence. On the one hand we are hyper-critical of scientists,
who are seen as being merely people who are good at theories, but
on the other hand we are fond of using their titles, even if they
are bogus.

The author is a staff writer at The Jakarta Post.