Respect Great Talent

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

A robot made by students of vocational school (SMK) Santo Mikael, Solo, are featured in an educational exhibition at junior high school (SMP) Pangudi Luhur, Ambarawa, Semarang regency, Central Java, on Saturday (13/1/2018). The exhibition was held in conjunction with the 90th anniversary of the junior high school. Various schools began to aggressively promote themselves to attract prospective students through the education exhibition.

In order to excel, a nation must possess various resources – natural, human, scientific – and leaders with extraordinary policies.

At a time when there are many disruptions, great resources are an absolute requisite. What are the challenges Indonesia faces today? Beyond many unfinished jobs, especially related to basic needs of clothing, food and housing, there is now Industry 4.0.

Industry 1.0 refers to the invention of machinery, especially steam-powered machines, while Industry 2.0 is connected to the invention of electricity, and Industry 3.0 is connected to computers, information management and the Internet.

Industry 4.0 is marked by the expanding use of artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing and virtual reality. One trait that is often associated with Industry 4.0 is increasing complexity and sophistication

Complex problems need smart individuals to solve them. We often hear about the “demographic bonus”. However, since the average schooling for most Indonesians remains less than nine years, we must not expect too much from the demographic bonus.

Against the limited access to education, several junior high school (SMA) students have displayed special talents and many have been successful in school or in their later professional careers. More than a few of such students have gone overseas to pursue their careers.

First, we want to underline that programs like the International Science Olympiads should be embraced as a way to develop passion in the sciences and as a path to the Nobel Prize. At the very least, we can see the passion and seriousness among the winners to succeed.

We are saddened to realize that many brilliant students have chosen to pursue their opportunities overseas, such as in Singapore, simply because of better options or offers. They are offered an opportunity to study at the best universities abroad, are free to pick a major in their preferred field of study and receive scholarships.

The universities at home only offer free enrollment and waive the entrance exam. Local universities require that these students choose a program of study related to the subject in which they won the Science Olympiad. This is the characteristic of our bureaucracy: rigid and half-hearted.

So, we cannot blame the smart and talented students if they choose to enroll at universities abroad like Nanyang Technological University or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. We are experiencing a brain drain, the outflow of our smart and talented youths. Meanwhile, upon its appropriate policy and availability of funding, China is experiencing a brain gain, with Chinese executives repatriating from their jobs in the US or Europe to contribute to national development.

It is lucky that we have great talents who have chosen to remain in Indonesia. We appreciate their dedication to the nation. We should make sure that they do not regret their decision. Yet, we call on the Culture and Education Ministry and the Research, Technology and Higher Education Ministry to pay more attention to our brilliant talents, because they are sorely needed.