Too Ancient, Indonesia’s Education System Needs to be Reformed.

By: Tarin Pramesti Nharesworo

Travelling, flying, and airport were parts of me who studied abroad. When I flew back to Malaysia from Indonesia to pursue my degree before Covid-19 outbreak, I met an old man sitting beside me. He wore a white robe, as a part of pilgrim group. “Hey, can you help me turn on this tv? I also want to watch a movie like you”, said him while I was watching a movie, I helped him and asked him several questions. Apparently, it was the first time he flew and for pilgrimage, but he did not even know how to turn on the tv in the airplane and he can’t read. I was sad and wondering how bad our education system is, I kept asking myself why not all people have the same privilege to get proper education.

Indonesia’s education system is already outdated. The curriculum is not relevant anymore with the current situation, it was argued that Indonesia’s education system development has been influenced by the traditional principles, the interests of ruling powers, and the spirit of independence.[1] Hence, the current education system seems to be more spoon-feeding of the old insights rather than develop the critical thinking of the students. The dynamic world requires us, human beings, to adapt so we can survive; similarly, the lessons and knowledge need to be renewed in accordance with the ages’ evolvement. So, there will be better future generations for Indonesia.

Education is the roots of people development, while people’s welfare is also the roots of a country’s development. Both are related; thus, the firm and proper education system is necessary. Indonesia’s spoon-feeding system train the students to memorizing the formula and topic, rather than to analyze the subject and situation. We’re trained to follow, not to invent. I personally, has forgotten the scientific subjects that I learned during junior and senior high schools. I was so eager to reach a high ranking, rather than to understand each topic and analyze it critically.

Recently, the new Minister of Education, Nadiem Makarim bravely introduced “Merdeka Belajar” program which emphasizes on the alteration of national exams that used to determine the competency of the students based on the mark (number). Meanwhile, the new program affirms on the problem solving, critical thinking, and analyzing skills.[2] The program is indeed relevant with the current needs; therefore, the future generations will have better skills to develop Indonesia.

However, the great idea will only be an idea if there is no implementation. The new enacted program will only be successful if all the sectors execute the program well. Yet, some obstacles appear in the process of realization. Firstly, the Covid-19 pandemic which hinder all the socialization, training, and implementation of the program. Socialization and training are the most pivotal session, especially to train the teacher and principle, so there will be a structural change. Secondly, Indonesian people prone to be lazy for change, with lack of adapting skills, the program will be hard to be implemented. Lastly, digitalization is also a challenge for both students and teachers. the current generations prefer to get something instantly which they can get easily from the internet. Yet, this easiness will prevent the grow of their critical thinking, perseverance, and analytical skills. While for the teachers, they need more time to adapt with the technology; which hinder the teaching and learning process and will induce the misunderstanding among the pupils and lecturers.

Nonetheless, instead of making excuses, all the obstacles should only be the motivation for the stakeholders to implement the program well. To encapsulates, Indonesia’s government and citizen need to cooperate in changing Indonesia’s education system, as usually the idea is already excellent yet the implementation does not. Change is a process, not an instant method.

[1] Suratno, Tatang. “The education system in Indonesia at a time of significant changes.” Revue Internationale d’éducation de Sèvres (2014).

[2] GTK, — oleh Sekretariat. “Merdeka Belajar.” Accessed January 31, 2021. https://gtk.kemdikbud.go.id/read news/merdeka-belajar.