According to UNESCO, Indonesia has one of the largest school systems in the world, with over 50 million students enrolled. However, according to the survey conducted by The World Bank in December 2019, it also has a significant shortage of teachers in some areas, with a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. This leads to overcrowded classrooms and a lack of personalized attention for students. A 2020 survey by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that only about 22% of Indonesian 15-year-olds demonstrated proficiency in reading, mathematics, and science. Â This disparity is even more pronounced in rural areas , with urban areas having better access to quality schools and educational resources. In contrast, many rural areas lack even basic educational facilities.
Consider the story of a bright young girl, just call her Siti, from a remote village in Sulawesi. Siti is eager to learn, but her school is severely underfunded, lacks basic educational materials, and often faces a shortage of qualified teachers. The nearest library is hours away, and internet access is a distant dream. There are so many more with the like of Siti in other remote villages in Papua, Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara and more. In contrast, in Jakarta, children with the age similar to Siti enjoy a more privileged educational experience with access to modern facilities, highly qualified educators, and a wide range of extracurricular activities. This stark contrast highlights the urban-rural education divide that plagues Indonesia.
Although some neighboring countries have faced challenges in achieving educational excellence, they have made significant progress. Vietnam has invested in infrastructure, teacher training, and curriculum reform, and its students have achieved impressive results on international assessments. Singapore, another close neighbor to Indonesia, has transformed itself from a struggling economy into a global education leader by investing heavily in education, recruiting high-quality teachers, and adopting a rigorous curriculum. Singaporean students consistently perform exceptionally well on international assessments and are highly sought-after by universities and employers around the world. Indonesia has many similarities to these countries, and if they are able to successfully implement education reforms, Indonesia can achieve the same level of success.
One of the primary issues facing the Indonesian education system is the urban-rural divide. While urban areas tend to have better schools and more qualified teachers, rural areas often struggle with a lack of resources and access to quality education. This disparity further deepens social and economic inequalities. Moreover, the curriculum in Indonesian schools is often criticized for its rigidity and memorization-based teaching methods. This approach places a heavy burden on students, as they are forced to learn vast amounts of information without truly understanding the subject matter. The lack of critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the curriculum hinders students from developing a deeper understanding of the subjects and applying their knowledge in practical situations.
To truly revolutionize Indonesian education, we can look to countries like Finland, which have undergone significant educational transformations. In Finland, the focus shifted from memorization to understanding, with a strong emphasis on student well-being. The success of Finland's education system lies in its flexible curriculum, qualified teachers, and an approach that values the individual needs of each student. The Finnish model can serve as an inspiration for Indonesia. It's about nurturing students' intrinsic motivation, providing holistic education, and treating teachers as professionals.
A Roadmap for Curriculum Development
To revolutionize Indonesian education, a fundamental aspect to address is curriculum development. The curriculum should be designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, rather than rote memorization. Here's a proposed roadmap for curriculum development:
1. Balancing Tradition and Innovation
The curriculum should embrace Indonesia's rich cultural heritage while incorporating modern teaching methodologies. It should encourage students to explore their own culture and history while being prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. Pancasila and all its values should not be lost under the influence of modernism. This can be achieved through the integration of local traditions, history, and languages into the curriculum, creating a unique and relevant educational experience.
2. Teacher Training and Professional Development
Invest heavily in quality teacher training programs and continuous professional development. Well-trained and motivated teachers are the backbone of a successful education system. The Indonesian government can partner with universities to create specialized programs for teacher training, focusing on modern pedagogical approaches and the use of technology in the classroom. This especially should be progressed more towards the remote areas of Indonesia. It may be a long-term investment that Indonesia need to take now to ensure the quality of the younger generations to come.
