Teacher colleges should be transformed slowly
Teacher colleges should be transformed slowly
UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): The government's plan to convert state-run teacher training institutes (IKIPs) into full- fledged universities should happen gradually, say education experts.
H. Engkoswara, the chairman of the Association of Indonesian Educators, told The Jakarta Post that it would be better to start with only a few colleges so as to monitor the results.
Earlier, Engkoswara delivered to the government a statement containing a number of suggestions on how to improve the quality of the students graduating from the schools.
The association suggested that the government reduce or control the number of state-run and private colleges, while enforcing standards and regulations.
"Change IKIPs into learning institutions which are as tightly run as medical schools," Engkoswara said.
The association has also suggested that the government establish a special directorate general to better manage the 300 teacher colleges across the country.
Engkoswara said many IKIPs, such as the ones in Bandung and Ujungpandang, are ready to be upgraded into universities, which take longer and offer more disciplines.
"However, it will be up to the government to decide which of the colleges is to be converted," he told the Post.
The association's statement was made during a session with Bambang Soehendro, a senior official at the Ministry of Education and Culture, at the four-day national convention on education which closes tomorrow.
Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro announced the conversion program recently and said that due to limited funds, the government would start with only three IKIPs. A special team has been established to review the applications already submitted by ten state-owned IKIPs.
The government hopes to announce the first three next month.
A participant from West Nusa Tenggara also suggested that colleges tighten selection procedures for new entrants.
"Select only those who are talented and motivated, grill them with tests," he said.
I Wayan Ardhana from IKIP Malang, East Java, named his own college as an example of an institute ready for the transition. "We have plenty of space, facilities, good laboratories...but fewer students because people are reluctant to enter teacher colleges.
"If the college is changed into a university then it can produce not only teachers but also experts on chemistry, biology and other disciplines," he said.
Bambang Soehendro, who is the education ministry's director general of higher education, said that what's even more important than changing the status of IKIPs is the attitude of the people involved.
"Educational progress and development is determined by the people, not the institutions, whether they are colleges or universities," he said.