Focus on the Application of Pancasila Values

The process of giving meaning to Pancasila values through education is still weak. This is not only because the foundation is not strong, but also education has not been able to get used to the application these values.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

A participant in the commemoration of Pancasila Day on Jalan Margonda Raya, Depok City, West Java, distributed stickers with the image of the state symbol of the Republic of Indonesia, Garuda Pancasila, Tuesday (1/6/2021) to passersby.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The strengthening of Pancasila values, which is inconsistent and not sustainable for the younger generation, threatens the development of Indonesia’s human resources and culture. The problem of the poor strengthening of Pancasila values through education is not only about the foundation but also about an educational system that fails to promote it as a culture and habit.

Deputy director for the coordination of quality improvement and religious moderation at the Office of the Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister, Agus Sartono, made this remark in a webinar titled "Realizing an Educational System Based on Pancasila", which was held by Vox Point Indonesia and Asus in Jakarta on Tuesday (1/6/2021). The event also commemorated Pancasila Day.

Indonesia\'s human development based on Pancasila is an endless process. “The arrangement of its implementation has not been successful. Therefore, character education that strengthens the values of Pancasila and builds civility in children must be improved so that it is sustainable," he said.

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The strengthening of Pancasila values for the younger generation also required real examples, including from family, school, surroundings and the state. Without habituation of the values into everyday life exemplified by the role models of the younger generation, the internalization of Pancasila values as the character of the nation\'s children faced serious challenges.

According to Cahaya Guru Foundation chair Henny Sitepu, the principle of providing education according to the mandate of Law No. 20/2003 on the national educational system presents the principle of education sharply, clearly and neutrally, referring to Pancasila.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Painter Wito painted Garuda Pancasila entitled "Garuda never wavers" during the commemoration of Pancasila Day at the Basketball Hall, Gelora Bung Karno Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday (1/6/2021).

Article 4 of the law states that education should be held in a democratic, fair and non-discriminatory manner by upholding human rights, as well as religious, cultural and pluralistic values.

However, Henny added, there was negligence in the implementation of education, including Pancasila education. As a result, various surveys of the younger generation showed that Pancasila values were fading.

The Pancasila Muda Community Survey from May 2020 showed that 19.5 percent of Instagram and Facebook users aged 18 to 25 did not believe that Pancasila was relevant to their lives. Previously, a CSIS survey in 2017 showed that 9.5 percent of millennials agreed that Pancasila, as the state ideology, had been replaced.

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Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim is now trying to strengthen the values of Pancasila through the ultimate goal of transforming the Merdeka Belajar (Freedom to Learn) program into the Pancasila Student Profile. However, according to Henny, this warrants critique.It is necessary to question the relation between the Pancasila Student Profile, which is typified by being faithful, being devoted to God and having a noble character, being independent and willing to work together, embracing global diversity, deploying critical reasoning, being creative and adhering to the principles of Pancasila.

"We must believe that Pancasila as an open ideology can respond to the challenges of the times, be dynamic, as long as we apply engagement and mutuality and are reflective in its implementation," said Henny.

Implementation at school

In another webinar with the theme "Enlivening Pancasila Education" held by the Cahaya Guru Foundation, a number of teachers from various subjects shared inspirational stories to strengthen Pancasila values in schools. Hamka Malik, a chemistry teacher at SMAN 22 state senior high school in Makassar, South Sulawesi, taught chemistry through traditional games that demanded cooperation among students regardless of their differences.

“The application of Pancasila values through chemistry lessons can be done. In the matter of electron transfer, for example, I designed it as a game by dividing students into groups where they had to be able to move in teamwork regardless of their differences in order to excel,” said Hamka.

Dian Lestari, the chair of the Center for Community Learning Activities at the Cerlang Integrated Nature School in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, said education in the non-formal school was designed to make everyone at the school accustomed to living amid diversity. Students from kindergarten to elementary school were taught to be accustomed to socializing with members of different religious and visiting their places of worship.

By teaching children from an early age to recognize and live in diversity, there will appear a generation that maintains diversity according to the spirit of Pancasila.

“From the results of our reflection with the children, actually children who are accustomed to diversity are more focused on equality, unlike adults who focus on differences. By teaching children from an early age to recognize and live in diversity, there will appear a generation that maintains diversity according to the spirit of Pancasila," said Dian.

Character education practitioner Doni Koesoema said that learning that gave students experience and was strongly reflective in instilling values was needed. Many character education programs had been launched with jargon, the latest of which was the Pancasila Student Profile, which should not stop at the concept alone.

"We must focus on implementation, ensuring that the contents of character education can be carried out in order to strengthen the character of the nation\'s children," said Doni.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.