Education System and its impact

One of the main differences between a developed country and developing countries is their education system.

Why is that so?

A good country is run by people who are well educated and trained, and the place to train the future leaders of the nation, be it in governmental or civil posts are in the school.

Therefore, most countries who knows the impact of a good education system, will certainly allocate a huge budget on it. The good percentage will be around 20% of the annual government spending.

Indonesia, a surviving developing nation is lacking in good leadership with integrity to rule the nation. We are not lacking in good natural talent, as can be seen, that Indonesian students are performing well in International competitions such as Physics Olympiade. However, we are lacking in facility to support those talented students to achieve what they can be. We are lacking in good education system that can reveal those hidden talents.

Worst of all, our education system is going from bad to worse.

In the past years, a questionable body under the Ministry of Education introduced something called 'National Examination' as a passing criteria for all the junior and senior high school students. That is definitely an idea that cannot go any worse, why?

There are a few reasons:
1. Indonesia is too big with varying education standard. To impose a same examination is not fair.
2. Using examination as the 'sole' graduation standard is not ideal.
3. Teacher and school have no say in the student's capability for graduation

Indonesia is such a big nation, with varying education standard across its 33 provinces. Thousands of schools from the most advanced airconditioned class room in the capital city, to the leaky classroom in the rural area; schools with complete lab facility to the village school without even a tape recorder, are required to go through the exact same 'National Examination'. How can this be a fair examination?

In the past, there are other types of "National Examination" imposed for the country, however, the result from the exam was to be combined with school performances and results, using certain formula to determine whether the student can pass or not. In this way, the government can achieve its purpose to determine the overall national education standard, but also allow the school and teacher factor to decide for the student. The system in the past is for balanced.

Compared to the new 'National Examination' as the sole passing criterion. What if the student is sick during the exam? what if something happen that caused the student to be late for the exam? The continuous good performance and track record by the student throughout the year were canceled out by a single-point of failure. Can this be a good 'standard'?

Teacher and school are those who see the students grow from day to day. They are the one who knows the capability of the students, not some 'stupid' impersonal examination paper set by someone higher up who never care about what happened to the poor students. Teachers and school should play a major part in determining the passing of a student.

Sad to say, the government thought that it has found the best way to improve its education system.

I hope and pray that the ministry will soon be brought to its senses, and abolish this system. The way to improve the education system is to provide funding, eliminate corruptions by evil headmasters and local ministry officials, provide trainings to equip the teachers for better way teaching. May God have mercy upon this nation.