Social conflict and poor education

Citing the issue that social conflict stems from poor education (The Jakarta Post, May 3, 2000), I wish to contribute some ideas to that problem based on my own experience.

Education should always be a priority for a country like Indonesia, whose population is the fourth largest in the world. It is highly likely that through education, Indonesia would be able to reduce tension among different ethnicities and religions.

In this regard we should remind ourselves of what Jacques Delors said, that we should not see education as a miracle cure or magic formula but as one of the principle means available to foster a deeper and more harmonious form of human development and thereby reduce poverty, ignorance and conflicts.

The question now is whether our country has become the fall guy of one of these catastrophes. If so, there is no other way but to make education the first priority in our national agenda.

ODO FADLOELI

Cimahi, Bandung