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