We Need to Redefine Education

Kompas/Hendra A Setyawan

Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim

We are of the same view reflected in the vision and perception of Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim about education as reported in Kompas on Thursday. Among other things is the need to establish a link and match between educational curriculums and industry’s needs.

This concept has appeared since the 1980s and 1990s. We also still remember that the purpose of the concept is to ensure the graduates of schools can be employed by the industrial sector as soon as possible. In short, the graduates of the education system must be ready to use.

Why, after debating it for so long, do we raise the issue again? Minister Nadiem sees that in the last 20 years there has been no change in our education patterns. Now, in the era of disruption, during which he have to enter Industry 4.0, which is marked by the emergence of a number of new technologies that have changed many types of jobs (many supported by automation and robotics), and also the way the people work, preparing the links and matches is not as easy as before.

How can the links and matches be prepared if the type of new work that will appear is not yet in sight? This is why we support Minister Nadiem\'s view that the graduates of educational institutions should not merely be armed with knowledge. They must also be learners (some people even insist on the need to become lifelong learners).

From there, the change can begin. Teachers or lecturers should no longer use all of the teaching time to merely transfer knowledge, which may be out of date when students finish their studies. Teachers and lecturers must set aside time to motivate students to become lifelong learners, become empathetic, creative, able to communicate (have interpersonal communication skills) and be able to cooperate or work in teams.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Students of Muhammadiyah 1 alternative junior high school in Magelang, Central Java, gather on 24 Oct. 2019 in a group activity to write letters to Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim. Many of the 345 students who participated in the activity asked that the government to review the school’s zoning area.

The minister added that the industrial world has complained less about employees who lack knowledge or technical skills, but complain more about employees who lack initiative, are unable to work in teams, lack confidence to make decisions, are not communicative in expressing ideas and are undisciplined in respecting time.

There is still much more that we can explore from Minister Nadiem, but at a glance the above views provide an overview of the scope of the problem and with that we have to set a priority that we have to start.

Given the complexity and magnitude of the problem, the minister cannot promise quick results; perhaps the program even has a chance of not succeeding. However, we give him time, even though there are many things that are urgent.

The presence of Nadiem is a plus factor for the Education and Culture Ministry to carry out its program. However, all the advantages he has must still be tested as he has to face the culture and mentality of a bureaucracy that still doesn’t agree with his vision to carry out the program.

We wish that Minister Nadiem can successfully make a breakthrough for national education.