'What about civilian supremacy?'
The recent death of a student at the Public Administration Institute (STPDN), Wahyu Hidayat, shocked the public as he was allegedly beaten to death by his seniors. While the police are investigating the case and the Ministry of Home Affairs finally fired the institute's head, demands have been rising for the ministry to close down the school. The Jakarta Post talked to some people about the violence in the state-run school.
Eka Wenats, 33, is a lecturer in political philosophy at the Atma Jaya Catholic University in Central Jakarta. He lives in Meruya, West Jakarta, with his wife and son:
The education system in the STPDN is rotten. The institute still applies a militaristic approach to educate future bureaucrats.
It is ironic. It is supposed to be the era of civilian supremacy, with the emphasis being placed on accountable and transparent civilian officials.
Such a militaristic approach will only hurt people. How can candidate district chiefs who act like military commanders serve the public?
I put the blame on those behind the education concepts employed. Why must violence be taught to candidate civil servants?
We need better and more intelligent bureaucrats who are educated based upon a more humane curriculum in order to produce responsible district chiefs.
However, I don't think it's necessary to close down the STPDN. The ministry only needs to improve the educational paradigms employed.
Dian, 32, is a post graduate student of the University of Indonesia in Central Jakarta. She resides in Kayu Jati, East Jakarta, with her husband and daughter:
As far as I know, the military-style approach for students has long been banned due to its fatal results in many cases.
I wonder how well the ban has been implemented as we now have the STPDN case.
As usual, the government only reacted after widespread exposure in the press and pressure from the public.
I'm sure this death of an STPDN student is only one of many unreported cases.
The institute should be totally reformed, otherwise the candidate bureaucrats will be encouraged to perpetrate violence as they were taught during their college days.
If I were the mother of a student who suffered from violence, I would report this to the media as the government lacks accountability and responsiveness.
Irene, 18, is a new student at Tarumanegara University in West Jakarta. She lives in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta, with her family:
I was shocked when watching the footage of torture on television.
I can't understand why bureaucrat candidates must be tortured by their seniors, who are also bureaucrat candidates. It's worse to see that the seniors seemingly enjoying torturing their juniors.
I think the education system in the STPDN does not make any sense. Why should young people who want to study be beaten? Violence is absolutely intolerable in most ways.
I'm afraid if the education system applied in the STPDN remains unchanged, educated people will become used to violence. I can't imagine how the students will act in the future, once they become bureaucrats.
-- Leo Wahyudi S.