Proposed curriculum change spurs debate in Indonesia
A proposed new elementary school education emphasises ethics and religious knowledge. But many parents are nervous it will mean less time spent learning technology and science.
By Yenny Herawati for Khabar Southeast Asia in Madiun, East Java
Changing the educational curriculum needs to be done if we are to produce better future generations. The fact is, education so far has yielded a generation that is brutal, hedonistic, without courtesy, etc. Anyone who understands education would tell you that the education that has so far been in effect has not been able to produce the nation's best generation and that the experts appointed to fix it have never looked to Islam. This I need to say, as good as a concept maybe in trying to better the people, specifically the young generation, without drawing from Islamic principles will only bring disappointment. Disappointment in this world, and gaining nothing in the afterlife.
Sr Manta
November 4, 2013 @ 04:11:01AM
Before I give my comment I would like to give some input to those who read this suggestion: There are three pillars within the identity of this nation erected by the Indonesian Father of Education: Ki Hajar Dewantara. These three pillars are: 1) In front, giving example, 2) From within, providing initiatives and working together, 3) From behind, providing spirit and encouragement. This means that education is done by teachers. It is clear, gentlemen! Add to it the resources and means to facilitate a student body! No matter how advanced a curriculum is, if the teachers are not honest and sincere in teaching and improving their skills and knowledge for teaching their students, especially in these electronic times, our education will end in disaster! Thank you. I am a Master's candidate for UPY Jogjakarta, PIPS program. I hope that all creatures that reside in the world and the astral plane will read this. Amen.
Helena
August 22, 2013 @ 09:08:00AM
Soon we will be left behind by Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia etc. Other people are progressing, whereas Indonesia is headed who knows where. Only time will prove it because people only listen to the opinions of people around them; different opinions are ignored. When the time comes, we will know who was responsible.
wawan
March 26, 2013 @ 09:03:17AM
At any rate, the curriculum will not be able to fix the students' character without good government policy. The character that has almost vanished completely is honesty, and with the decline of honesty comes the understanding that anything goes when it comes to achieving goals even if it violates the law and religious principles. A small example is the matter of passing a grade level. If the government sets an overall passing score of at least 60 but it turns out that students are unable to obtain that score in a situation where being held back a grade is a rare occurrence, grades will often be hiked up even if they don't reflect the students' capabilities. There should not be a minimum grade requirement for grade promotion and graduation but rather a character requirement. Moreover, cheating is rife in National Exams which is done to help students obtain the minimum passing grade. Consequently, students learn that the wrong way is permissible to achieve an end. Next is the matter of employment and higher learning where minimum requirements for school report scores will result in dishonesty on the part of the schools in issuing grades because they want everyone to obtain employment and be accepted into institutions for higher learning. Employers and institutions for higher education should not apply minimum scores from prior education but rather deal with it directly with test.
SYAMSURIZAL.
February 4, 2013 @ 05:02:24PM
Actually, from the beginning we have misunderstood what education truly means. I remember when it was called the Ministry of Education now it is the Ministry of Education and Teaching. This means we should educate children first before instructing them in science and technology. Besides that, we can also read what was once known as Broad Guidelines of State Policy (GBHN) in which the direction for development was very good and it was clear what we wanted to achieve from stage to stage. Why was it abandoned when it was conceived by many of those who are in office today? We do not have a set budget and so spending is prone to spiking at any given time. This is harmful to everyone. Fightings between schools cause traffic disruption and innocent people may get hurt. Also, many other things do not reflect modern people. We do not need to worry about a planned change of curriculum because many of the nation's children are now professors. If it is to change we suggest that scripture lessons be separated from character lessons. Because if children have good characters, they would easily understand knowledge. Thank you.
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