University degree a source of pride, until the grave
Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post
He was evidently proud to see his eldest son among hundreds of fresh graduates attending last Thursday's graduation ceremony at Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University.
For five years, the father of five had transferred, every payday, nearly half his monthly salary as a civil servant of Rp 1.6 million (US$150) to his law student son.
The man, who will retire next June, is feeling rather relieved, after a prominent legal academic in Jakarta promised to make his son an apprentice in his law firm. He hopes that his son will assume responsibility for the education costs of his youngest daughter, who is studying at a private university in Medan, North Sumatra.
He cited a number of famous lawyers of his ethnicity who -- he was under the impression -- had made their fortunes defending embezzlers. He thought that by sending his son to one of the country's most prestigious universities, he had been investing in his future. His son's legal expertise would be in demand by rich clients, he thought.
After the ceremony, he sang the obligatory national song Maju Tak Gentar (Move Forward with No Fear) in front of his son and wife. Maju tak gentar membela yang bayar (Move forward with no fear to defend the people who pay you), he sang, changing the lyrics from the original "Move forward with no fear to defend the right one".
However, the man seemed tense when one of his relatives told him that his son must obtain at least a master's degree, because a lawyer who holds more than one academic title comes across as more "genuine" to potential clients.
"Even if I sold all my belongings, and my children's (he did not mention his wife), I could not continue to finance his studies," the man admitted in desperation.
He did not know that, with some Rp 10 million, he could obtain a PhD for his son -- and one for himself, what's more -- at the Institute Manajemen Global Indonesia (MGRI) in Jakarta. The institute has issued at least 103 unlicensed diplomas for professorships, 1,060 diplomas for postgraduate degrees and another 288 for PhDs. No dissertation is required.
In cases like these, in the absence of real learning, what more could be said upon "graduation", than, "I dedicate my professorship to my mom, who raised me until I weighed 50 kilograms and reached the height of 164 centimeters, and I was able to be independent."
When he was vice president from 2001 to 2004, Hamzah Haz referred to himself as a doctor of economics in official documents. His name is reportedly included on the MGRI list. Many prominent people are also mentioned on the list and proudly use the title on their name cards or in official documents.
Why are degrees so important to Indonesians? For civil servants, the more degrees they have, the greater the chance is of being promoted. For others, it is a matter of prestige -- although it is a false sense of pride.
Wedding invitations often include, in small print, an apology for errors in names or titles. Hosts, it would seem, often receive complaints for not mentioning the full titles of their guests.
A friend recently said he had decided not to his use his MBA title from a little-known university after the university hired poorly educated comedians Mandra and Basuki for its television advertisements to attract new students.
"I am better educated than Mandra and Basuki," he said in an insulted tone.
Just read the messages of condolences printed in newspapers. The title -- including academic titles -- of the deceased are often mentioned. It is not uncommon, even, for academic titles to appear on headstones or cemetery plaques.
"Rest in peace Prof. Dr. Adam PhD. MM, MBA,BA MsC, the recipient of the State Medal for meritorious service to the nation" are prestigious letters indeed to be remembered by.
The availability of university degrees for bargain prices is an insult to those who earn their degrees through hard work at good universities. The pride of many professors is no doubt dampened by the presence of new professors who have graduated from nowhere but senior high school.
One day their children will ask the real professors, "Come on, tell us the truth, how much did you pay for your academic title?"
And, what about yourself? For sure, whatever your education background is, as soon as you die, you are entitled to a new title: The late...
The writer can be reached at purba@thejakartapost.com