Reinvigorate Ethics Education in Schools and Campuses

Ethics education must again be prioritized in school activities. Introduction to important values ​​is carried out from an early age.

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

Students of the Nahdlatul Ulama KH Mukmin elementary school in Sidoarjo, East Java, have compiled a report on the Strengthening Project of the Pancasila Student Profile and the Rahmatan lil Alamin Student Profile on Tuesday (3/10/2023). This school implements the Independent Curriculum, including in educating students' character.

MEDAN, KOMPAS — Over the last few years ethics education in schools and universities is no longer considered a priority. As a result, students lose the ability to understand right and wrong actions. The values ​​of honesty, justice, caring and kindness are expensive items in the educational environment.

”I see that lately we really underestimate the value of ethics. "Many bad practices regarding ethical violations occur in the educational environment," said an educational observer who is also Professor Faculty of Languages ​​and Arts, Medan State University Sri Minda Murni< /a> when interviewed by Kompas regarding National Education Day, Thursday (2/5/2024).

Sri stated that on the momentum of National Education Day, the prioritization of ethics education should be carried out. The contribution of educational institutions is significant in reapplying the fading ethical values.

In college, for example, students no longer feel guilty about plagiarizing coursework by copying and pasting other students' assignments. Many also use artificial intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT to complete campus assignments.

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KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Three students read books in the Menteng 02 Elementary School Library, Central Jakarta, Friday (3/2/2023).

Meanwhile, in schools, a number of teachers have been caught colluding with students to cheat on national exams. The teachers are afraid of being reprimanded by the head of the department if the exam scores are low, the head of the department is afraid of being reprimanded by the regent, the regent is afraid of being reprimanded by the governor, and so on.

Finally, cheating is widely conducted. Traces of plagiarism from friends or AI applications can easily be found in almost every task of college or school students.

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From an ethical perspective, according to Sri, the issue in this case is not just a matter of cheating during exams or doing assignments. It goes deeper than that, as students and teachers seem to lack a foundation of values within themselves to understand and accept that what they did was wrong.

"The most disturbing thing is when students have normalized violations. They commit wrongdoing, but it is not discussed. Instead, the discussion focuses on the educator's response, which they deemed inappropriate," said Sri.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Participants take photos after drawing together with students with intellectual disabilities and Down syndrome at the East Java Social Welfare Activities Coordinating Agency Building in Surabaya, Thursday (2/5/2024).

Therefore, Sri stated that all parties must prioritize ethics education again in schools, universities, and family environments. There must be a process of introducing ethical values so that there is a foundation for a sense of support for ethical values within students or college students. "They must realize how bad it is when something bad is considered good," said Sri.

After learning ethics, students will have a foundation for accepting those values. Ultimately, they will also be able to defend and guarantee themselves to apply those values.

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The development of technology, according to Sri, must be followed by students properly. However, the use of technology must still be based on ethical values. The use of ChatGPT, for example, can be done as a reference. It should not be used blindly to complete tasks with AI technology.

Teachers must also consistently impose punishment on every violation of ethics. "It can be difficult to uphold these values sometimes, but we must do so. From the beginning, for example, it was stated that an E grade will be given if one directly copies from ChatGPT results. Therefore, it is necessary to consistently impose an E grade," said Sri.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Students wearing traditional costumes participate in the commemoration ceremony of National Education Day at Pancasila Field, Salatiga City, Central Java, on Thursday (2/5/2024).

Sri also appreciates the National Assessment conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology to examine the quality of education units based on the most basic student learning outcomes, namely literacy, numeracy, and character. This character survey can serve as a basis for implementing ethical values.

"I think that the National Assessment is a progress in the application of ethical values. Although there are certainly criticisms about the National Assessment, it needs to be continued," said Sri.

I see that lately we really underestimate the value of ethics. Many bad practices regarding ethical violations occur in the educational environment.

Equally important, according to Sri, is the role of parents in instilling ethical values at home. Education and the cultivation of ethical values should start at home since these values and attitudes are most easily applied from home.

"If that value is suddenly introduced in schools and universities, it will be difficult to accept. Instead, home will be a place to return to when one makes mistakes as an adult," said Sri.

KOMPAS/NIKSON SINAGA

The Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Anwar Makarim had a dialogue with students and lecturers from several campuses in Medan, at the University of North Sumatra, on Tuesday (26/10/2021). Nadiem asked for the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka program to be continuously improved.

Separately, Acting Governor of North Sumatra Hassanudin said that the Human Development Index (HDI) in North Sumatra has increased in recent years. One of the indicators of the HDI increase is education. "We hope that education in North Sumatra can be better in the future," he said.

Hassanudin stated that the Human Development Index (HDI) of North Sumatra is quite good and continues to improve every year. In 2021, the HDI of North Sumatra was at 73.84, increasing to 74.51 in 2022, and then further increasing to 75.13 in 2023. These figures are also higher than the national HDI, which is 74.39.

HDI is a measure of the quality of human life in a region. HDI consists of four indicators: expected years of schooling, average years of schooling, life expectancy, and real per capita expenditure. "Nationally, we are quite good. This is in line with our efforts to achieve Indonesia Emas 2045," he said.