University degree a source of pride, until the grave

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