The nation's foundations

The nation's foundations

From Rakyat Merdeka

By the turn of the century, several Southeast Asian countries,
including Indonesia, were plagued by economic crises. However,
while the other nations have recovered, Indonesia remains beset
by political, legal and even moral crises.

The nation's cultural order is totally upset, with ethnic and
religious groups putting emphasis more on their differences than
similarities, thus frequently triggering conflicts. Social groups
are blaming each other so that mutual respect is eroded. Violence
becomes the only solution to problems, leaving humanitarian
values further sidelined.

Meanwhile, the political elite attaches greater importance to
personal and group interests rather than the national interest,
with a high degree of corruption and nepotism still prevailing in
all segments of society.

These phenomena raise the question whether the present
conditions are the result of the educational policy so far
pursued. Is the system of education currently applied still
appropriate? In order to foster an educated community that is
globally competitive, several measures could be considered for
educational improvement.

First, a national education law with the spirit of rebuilding
Indonesia's education in a consistent and well-planned manner,
should be promptly introduced. Second, the government's
commitment to educational development should be reflected in the
state budget and regional budget. Third, the promotion of quality
teaching should start with increased appreciation of the teaching
staff. Fourth, in line with regional autonomy, educational
institutions in the regions should be allowed the freedom to tap
their creativity for new ideas to avoid centralism.

FERDIANSYAH ALI

Jakarta