EDUCATION IN INDONESIA

Indonesia is a big country, inhabited by hundreds of millions people includes

islands spread widely. We have been independent since 1945, but I think Indonesia
is not yet independent in terms of education. Although we have changed curricula
almost every year, but it proved that the Indonesian education has not been able to
compete with the developed countries. We tend to fall behind and have not been
able to print a great human resources class as developed countries. Currently, many
potential leaders, both local leaders and leaders of central will provide free
education for the citizen. They promised that if they are elected, they will provide a
decent education for free. However, in the field of free education discourse is quite
impossible to be implemented. This discourse will find some of the problems that
will occur in the real life if it remains to do. Here are a few paragraphs that the
reasons why free education is not appropriate to be implemented in this country.
The first reason is, the word free in the discussion indicated that there was not a dime costs. But
in fact, there is still a school levy. Students will still be charged as buying sports clothing,
uniforms, and other school needs. This is because aid is given only help operasioanl alone, such
as the cost of electricity, water, books - textbooks, and etc. That's not enough because the school
also requires operational costs should be paid every day like, the cost of photocopies, markers,
and others. So the school will definitely keep charging their students. Therefore, the word free in
this discourse is not appropriate and no more only as a sweetener alone.
The second reason is, if it is free, students will have no sense of responsibility. They will go
around school because they think the school does not require sacrifice one bit. However, if they
paying the students will have a very high responsibility for learning. They will seriously follow
the lessons in school. because they would think, if they are not serious in learning, then they will
lose their money.
Furthermore, if the government remains committed to the education as free, means the
government will disburse funds. However, that is a problem in Here in is not the funds, but the
funds disbursement process that will lead to some problems. As it is known that the disbursement
of funds is usually carried out in the central government, so as to achieve the school funds must
pass through several post first. This is what will create opportunities crimes. There will be
elements that cut funding on the grounds of administrative costs. As a result, funds to school is
no longer intact as it was original. Moreover, this funding will happen very long. In fact, it takes
many - months to get to school. In fact, the school is very costly - the costs to finance the
operational purposes of schools that must be paid. As a result, the school - the school can not run
optimally. For example, if the absence of markers, or photocopy them definitely asking for funds
to students san ends - ends they do not pay as well.

Based on the reasons that have been outlined above, it can be concluded that free education is
just a promise merely because it is impossible remedy is implemented and if implemented would
be ineffective. This is due to several things such as, funds provided by the government will not
be enough, making students become responsible, and the process is long and difficult. Therefore,
the discourse of free education is more appropriate and reasonable if it is replaced with cheap
education.
Related to the condition of education in Indonesia, Abdul Malik Fadjar (Minister of
Education in 2001) recognizes the truth of the assessment that the education system in Indonesia
was the worst in Asia. He warned, education is strongly influenced by socio-political conditions,
including issues of stability and security, for the implementation of education requires a sense of
security. Responding to the survey results Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC),
which states that the education system in Indonesia, the worst in Asia, namely from 12 countries
surveyed by the institute headquartered in Hong Kong, South Korea is judged to have the best
education system, followed by Singapore, Japan and Taiwan, India, China, and Malaysia.
Indonesia ranks 12th, below the level in Vietnam (Kompas, 5/9/2001).
Education in USA operated by state and local governments, regulated by United States
Department of Education through restrictions on federal funding. Children are required in most
states to attend school from age six or seven(generally kindergarten or first grade) until they are
eighteen (generally take them through twelfth grade, the end of high school).
Some states allow students to leave school at age sixteen or seventeen. About 12% of children
enrolled in parochial or nonsectarian private schools. United States has many private institutions
and public higher education competitive, and the local community college with an open policy.
Of the total U.S. population above the age of twenty-five years, approximately 84.6% graduated
from public high schools, 52.6% of them get into some college, and about 27.2% obtained a
bachelor's degree, and 9.6% obtained a baccalaureate degree. Almost all the American people do
not have an illiterate reached about 99% of the total. The United Nations gave the United States
an Education index 0.97, which ranks 12th in the world.