Sham academic titles
Sham academic titles
From Gatra magazine
Gatra magazine published on Jan. 1, 2000 a statement by the
rector of Diponegoro University, Semarang, on the practice of
conferring academic titles. Currently "instant" education
institutes tempting the community with prestigious academic
titles are burgeoning. A number of famous people have also taken
crash education programs to capture a magnificent title.
The Ministry of Education has asked that such institutes be
closed. Its argument is that foreign titles cannot be given by
education institutes in this country while foreign education
institutes are not allowed to open branches here. However, the
organizers of the education institutes continue their activities
as usual. They say they do not violate regulations. They have
even reciprocated by "attacking" the ministry.
"Why must noble objectives be prohibited?" they asked. They
claim that their institutes have participated in making a success
of the objectives of national education: raising the intellectual
level of the people. The media have quoted the views of the
institutes' students, who say they would object to their
"campuses" being closed down. They say the courses are useful and
improve their professionalism.
The case has been filed with the police, but they only smile.
"We have not received any complaints from people who have
suffered a loss," said a source in the police station as quoted
by the media. Apparently these education institutes do not cause
any losses to the community. They must be useful somehow. After
all, which education institute teaches bad things?
The students must have calculated the costs in comparison with
the magnitude of the title they will receive. With a splendid
academic title, they will advance their career smoothly. Who is
the injured party? Time is needed to reply to the question. Some
day we will realize that the capabilities of a titled person are
not always as expected.
If there is already doubt, the scapegoat will be our education
system. What will happen if the community does not trust academic
titles any longer? There are many people who gained their titles
with painful effort, but finally, academic titles will not be
important anymore.
Perhaps it is a matter of making a choice.
ENDANG M. SUKMANA
Bekasi, West Java