Name : Ave Angela Michelle Sudoyo

Student number : 18202244049

What is wrong with Education in Indonesia?

People generally would say that education is a solution for many problems in Indonesia such
as poverty, corruption, terrorism, illegal drugs, or human trafficking. The problem is there are only
few people that are aware about the aim of education and the right way to educate people.

For some people the goal of education is to obtain a degree. These people are lack of
education about the essential of education. The goal of education is to have knowledge and
competence. A title does not guarantee or show that a person is well educated. It only shows that
the person spent money, time, or energy to go to school or university. Some people just want to get
a degree because of the social prestige so they do not really internalize the learning process.

We can say that people are well educated if they have knowledge and competence. They
should be able to process information and they should understand why something is wrong and why
something is right, not just being indoctrinated. As the Indonesian citizens, we must have
experienced the moment where we were required to memorize the five principles of the Indonesian
state or Pancasila in elementary school. We must pronounce Pancasila every Monday morning
during the ceremony. When we were in kindergarten or grade 1 elementary school, do we
understand the meaning of the term “Esa” in the first principle or “permusyawaratan” in the fourth
principle? No, we just pronounced them over and over without understanding the meaning. This is a
wrong way to educate children.

Another example of wrong way to educate children in Indonesia is by giving a dogmatic rule.
For example, “You are a girl. Do not go out at night.” No education. No literacy. We only have a
prohibition. Where is the explanation about the concequences of going out at night? Why does it
only apply for girls?

We absolutely have a wrong education system. This should be reformed. We do not go to

school just to get a graduation certification but to learn with curiosity. We need to realize the true
meaning of education and provide a dialogue, not a dogma to educate people.