Human development is the focus of the government under the leadership of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the achievements of the human development program in the country.
By
EVY RACHMAWATI
·5 minutes read
KEMENKO PMK
The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy.
Human development is the focus of the government under the leadership of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the achievements of the human development program in the country.
This can be seen from the decline in the growth of the Human Development Index (HDI) in 2020 compared to previous years. The country’s HDI rose only by 0.02 points to 71.94 in 2020 from the figure in the previous year. In previous years, the increase in the HDI usually ranged from 0.5 to 0.6 points. According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the slowdown in HDI growth was caused by a decline in per capita expenditure from Rp 11.3 million (about US$795) in 2019 to Rp 11 million in 2020.
Breakthroughs and hard work are needed to overcome the problems triggered by COVID-19. Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy highlighted the government’s efforts to cope with the pandemic during an exclusive interview with Kompas last week. The following are excerpts from the interview.
What are the main challenges we are facing?
The Office of the Coordinating Human Development Minister takes care of the community, from unborn babies to elderly people. For the first thousand days of life, we focus on reducing the stunting rate. The President has instructed that the stunting rate be reduced from 27.7 percent now to 14 percent at the end of 2024. Stunting is not only physical, but also in the brain so that the development of stunted children is not optimal. According to the World Bank, of the productive age population of Indonesians aged 18 to 65 years, 54 percent were formerly stunted. This has hampered the improvement of the quality of human resources.
To expand the access to education so that a massive structural transformation can occur, the President has rolled out the Smart Indonesia Card. For Senior High School (SMA) and Senior Vocational High School (SMK), the government’s intervention is in the form of revamping the curriculum so that students will have skills to work and increasing the number of SMKs.
KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO
Students read letters remotely after receiving a TD vaccine (tetanus and diphtheria) injection at SD Santa Theresia Marsudirini 77, Salatiga, Central Java, Thursday (26/11/2020). The mandatory immunization activity is given to children to prevent them from contracting diphtheria and tetanus. This activity is also used to measure children\'s growth and development.
We are heading for the peak of the demographic bonus in 2030. This means that we will have a big harvest during which we will have a large productive workforce. If we are not ready, it will instead become a demographic disaster and [make Indonesia] unable to come out from the middle income trap.
The President has emphasized human resources development as number one. What are the main programs of the Office of the Coordinating Human Development Minister in 2021?
The pandemic has changed all the visions and targets, including human resources development. The pandemic has also brought uncertainties, and we are required to adapt all the time. The variable that determines the human development scenario is how we are able to control COVID-19 and promote economic growth.
COVID-19 is dangerous and deadly, but we have to face it. Don\'t assume the current condition is normal.
The key is the COVID-19 vaccine. Although not the ultimate weapon, vaccines will help us defeat the pandemic. It is expected that in mid-2021, vaccination can begin so that we will be able to quickly improve basic services in the health, education and social security sectors.
How should the pandemic be dealt with?
COVID-19 is dangerous and deadly, but we have to face it. Don\'t assume the current condition is normal. The government has imported vaccines to give the message that it is serious about dealing with the outbreak.
Kompas
Indonesian Human Development Index Components. Life expectancy (Angka harapan hidup), gross national income per capita (Pendapatan nasional bruto per kapita), long school expectancy (harapan lama sekolah), average length of schooling (rata-rata lama sekolah). Source: UNDP
Handling the pandemic is not only a matter of health service capacity but also the concept of COVID-19 handling governance. Our handling capacity is quite good with a high recovery rate. This is big capital to prepare further action until vaccination is available. The results of the phase three clinical trial for the COVID-19 vaccine [made by Sinovac] will be immediately reviewed by the BPOM [Food and Drug Monitoring Agency]. Don’t take it easy; you have to have high precision because it involves human life and the future of the nation.
How does the Office of the Coordinating Human Development Minister coordinate with other ministries and institutions so that education is in line with the current situation?
There are four educational problems, namely quantity, quality, suitability and access. I pay more attention to those who are left behind, give them the opportunity to move faster so that inequality will not further widen. If it cannot be carried out, social justice will be difficult to achieve.
In the economic aspect, let conglomerates grow, do not hamper their businesses, but they must not be given protection and facilities.
How about face-to-face learning?
We support the normalization of schools by implementing strict health protocols. It is risky to keep children out of school. Later, it will be evaluated. In red zone areas or areas with higher transmission risk, face-to-face learning will not be allowed. The central government cannot simply hand over the policy to regional governments.
How about social assistance programs?
The most basic weakness of direct cash assistance is that the use of the aid cannot be controlled. For Jakarta, according to the plan, spending will be limited ultramicro and micro traders. Later, the social assistance will be increased from Rp 200,000 to Rp 300,000 per month for all of Indonesia.
This article was translated by: Hendarsyah Tarmizi
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