Education in Job Creation Law

Kompas/Hendra A Setyawan

Students read textbooks from the mobile library collection at SDN Lebak Bulus 07 Pagi, Jakarta, Tuesday (10/9/2019).

On Friday (16/10/2020), a news report on education was published in the context of the approval and passage of the Job Creation Law by the House of Representatives.

Objections to an attempt to link education with commercial businesses have emerged. According to Hafid Abbas, a professor at the State University of Jakarta, the nation of Indonesia was able to be born because the country did not commercialize education. Professor Hafid’s concern refers to Article 12 of the Job Creation Law, which stipulates that “the implementation of licensing in the education sector can be done through business licensing as referred to in this law (UU)”.

We are all of the same opinion that the basic principle of education is an effort to produce superior individuals who, in addition to having good skills, also have a noble character. However, throughout the years, it has become apparent that achieving the primary objective of education has costs that continue to rise. As stated in a Javanese proverb, jer basuki mawa bea, excellence comes at a cost.

Both types of schools share the same missions and ideals, yet they adopt different practices.

In Indonesia, education is provided by public schools that are funded by the state, as well as schools managed by private entities. Both types of schools share the same missions and ideals, yet they adopt different practices.

Also read: Taking The Education Gamble

Halimson Redis, a spokesperson for the United Federation of Indonesian Teachers’ (FSGI) Academic Study Team on the job creation bill, observed that currently there were private schools located on city outskirts that had bare facilities and where teacher welfare was overlooked. This carries two implications. First, despite real limitations, schools are expected to live up to their ideals. In this regard, noncommercial management of schools prevents them from developing.

KOMPAS/KRISTIAN OKA PRASETYADI (OKA) 11-06-2020

Hiero Lasut (20) attended the graduation of Sam Ratulangi University online with his mother, Youna Lasut-Sompotan (44), at his home in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Thursday (11/6/2020). This year, several schools and colleges are holding graduations online to follow the protocol for preventing the transmission of Covid-19.

However, the second implication offers another perspective. According to management science, it remains possible that inadequate facilities and scant attention to teachers’ welfare in certain schools are prompted by poor management or even “professional” management.

Also read: Indonesia’s Higher Education in Transitional Period

We may learn from schools and universities abroad, which have good reputations and annual tuition fees that may be higher than US$50,000, or approximately Rp 750 million. From the tuition fees alone, we may immediately arrive at a conclusion that schools abroad have been too commercialized. Regardless, we all understand that a school’s reputations for excellence can be achieved by paying teachers, lecturers and professors well. In this regard, everything must be commensurate with the desired results. You reap what you sow.

Ahead of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, in which new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and the internet of things are to proliferate further, a new laboratory, which requires considerable investment, is needed. While public schools and universities can rely on government funds, private schools and universities must seek ways to make ends meet.

Also read: Education Evaluation

We all agree with the basic principle that education must not be commercialized. Regardless, we must be realistic in addressing needs to ensure that education in Indonesia remains superior, competitive and able to achieve goals independently.

Thus, appropriate management practices – effective without being commercial – are required for excellent education.