It’s Education, Stupid!

Singapore, October 2007

 

A few days ago, Indonesia celebrated the Youth Day. This was a special day attributed to the young men and women who had fought for the independence of this country. It was also meant for us to always remember to keep the flame alive and try to improve our beloved country.

 

 

 In conjunction with this day, several prominent youth figures supported by various academicians and certain political elites proclaimed the coming of a new dawn. They felt that the current “senior leadership” has been disappointing the nation and that it is time for the young men and women to lead. The condition in Indonesia is dire.

 

Rizal Ramli, a prominent economist, during a recent event, argued that Indonesia is way behind other Asian countries. He claimed this is because of the feudalistic character of the leaders, the practice of neo-colonialism, and the ineffective leader with a weak vision and character. (Kompas, 1/11)

Thus, it would seem perfectly fair to say that it is now the time for the younger generation to lead and fix this decadence. However, despite of Mr. Ramli’s valid opinion, his argument remains an abstract concept. Leadership, colonialism, and vision are abstracts.  

Most important of all, he appears to miss one of the most fundamental concrete problems the nation faces in the long run, the education sector. 

 

We should not forget that the Youth Oath of 1928 was suggested by the Indonesian Students’ Association, educated young men and women. If we were to be honest with our history, how could we simply ask the opportunity to lead while neglecting the education sector?

 

List out ten challenges that Indonesia faces in the future, or ten sectors where Indonesia is suffering. I can assure you that the long-term answer to all of them is education. 

 

Education is the silver bullet to all of our long-term problems. This is not rocket science. Everyone with common sense would be able to tell you this. Surprisingly, not many public officials or members of the political elite seem to regard education as their number one priority. 

 

Mr. Ramli said that in Asia we are behind China, Malaysia, or Taiwan. This would be more obvious when compared to more developed countries like Singapore, USA, or UK. 

 

It should be noted that almost every poll conducted in the USA, for example, would tell you that the issue that concerns Americans the most is education. And we wonder why American universities are the top ten in the world?

 

This does not mean that we should neglect other sectors, like the economy or national defense. But what good is the economy and defense if our children will not be educated enough to compete in the globalization era and sustain the country?

 

A good friend of mine who is familiar with polling numbers said that in Indonesia, education is not ‘sexy’ enough for a campaign issue. Some people are more receptive to the issue than others. This is why, he argued, that there are not many political candidates running for public office who would primarily campaign on education. 

 

If this is the case, should we not start asking questions to future presidential candidates? Why there has not been a single candidate who runs with a specific plan to improve education and make education the centerpiece of their campaign?

 

No presidential candidate or political elite ever came up with a concrete blueprint to improve education. Most of the time, they are riled up about are the national exams that generate revenues in various circles, except for the students. More saddening, scholars who came back with an overseas degree are queuing to get a piece of the political system, one way or the other. 

 

Yes, some candidate and political party did campaign, for example, to make education free. But, did they have a publicized point-by-point blue print to actually achieve that? Even if they did, can we expect them to keep their campaign promises? What is it about education that cannot be used as a strong campaign centerpiece?

 

Running for president in Indonesia without a comprehensive education plan is like running for the Governor of Bali and not mentioning the tourism sector at all. If we cannot afford to ask or publicly debate the abovementioned questions, for whatever reason, can we at least start to dream about it?

 

Someday I would love to see how the competition to become school teachers is fierce because teachers are paid more than political party chairpersons. When school buildings are better than the national palace and not crumble every time it rains, or when the national budget for education is the highest among all governmental departments. 

 

When public schools are much cheaper than private schools but have better quality. When school children do not attempt to commit suicide because they cannot come to a field trip or when teachers never have to organize demonstrations on the streets. 

 

As part of the younger generation, these are the gigantic, monumental changes in the education sector that I dream off. These are the things that we should all dream about, if we care about the fate of our children and their children after them. 

 

The fate of the nation hangs in the balance. Yes, abstractions and bid for power might be a short-term solution that sounds nice and logical. But, abstractions will remain abstractions without a concrete plan. Youth, seniors, economists, academicians, can all debate the conceptual abstractions of this nation’s leaders, when and how to take power, and so on. But without education, what’s the point? 

 

Who is thinking for the future of my generation and the generation after? Will this country be doomed in an endless cyclical bid for power? 

 

Sukardi Rinakit once wrote how kids in China dreamed about defeating America someday. This might be nothing more than a child’s dream. But how the younger generation dreams about his future is an indication of a nation’s development.

 

Ask kids today what they want to be when they grow up. We should be happy enough if the answer does not simply concern whether they could be a part of their class’ field trip or not. 

 

Someone should be thinking about what’s next, about the future in the next fifty years. Not simply how to take power in 2009. Education is the silver bullet, without it, any other bullets would only postpone the inevitable collapse of the nation.

 

Evan A. Laksmana, Singapore, October 2007.