Challenges of Education

Education is the source of a nation's strength. A good education system will create good to superior human resources, which will make the country advanced and developed.

KOMPAS/ESTER LINCE NAPITUPULU

Students at SD Negeri Sermo 1, Kulon Progo Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, (15/2/2023), learn in a positive school environment. Teachers who join the Fun School Movement community implement humane education in schools.

For at least the last three years, the government, through the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry (Kemendikbudristek), has made several breakthroughs to improve the quality of education. With the Merdeka Belajar (independent learning) movement, which amounted to 24 episodes, several rules or "traditions" that did not advance education were revamped.

There will no longer be a national exam; it has tended to neglect learning. The determination of graduation eligibility is left up to the school and the evaluation of students by teachers. The administrative burden on teachers is reduced so they can focus more on student learning. The teaching method is no longer focused on the teacher, but on the student. Learning is not academically oriented, but values and develops students' potential.

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What are the results? Kemendikbudristek believes the Merdeka Belajar movement has succeeded in improving the quality of education (Kompas, 3/5/2023). For example, the evaluation of the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum program in 18 districts/cities in three provinces by the Inspectorate General of Kemendikbudristek in 2022 showed significant results (Kompas, 16/1/2023).

There has not been a comprehensive evaluation of the Merdeka Belajar movement yet. This is because not all schools have implemented this movement due to various reasons. Schools that are the driving force behind the movement with active teachers, or schools that are supported by adequate resources, are guaranteed to not face any obstacles in implementing the Merdeka Belajar movement.

DOKUMENTASI KEMENDIKBUDRISTEK

Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Anwar Makarim leads the commemoration ceremony for National Education Day in Jakarta, Tuesday (2/5/2023).

Outside of those schools, generally in suburban or even remote areas, there are still many schools with inadequate facilities and infrastructure. The number or competence of their teachers is still lacking. Unfortunately, this problem has not been fully resolved. Recruitment of state employee teachers with employment agreements (PPPK) to overcome teacher shortages, for example, is still chaotic. This problem has caused uneven education services.

Many students are left behind in their education. Decentralization of education followed by an allocation of 20 percent of the budget for education has not fully been able to address this issue. It is possible diverse regional capacities could potentially sharpen educational disparities.

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> Challenges for the Merdeka Belajar

This is the biggest challenge to accelerate education transformation. To overcome it, one can start with the transformation of teacher governance. The development of education is a joint responsibility: families, educational institutions, the industry and the society. The key to educational transformation lies with teachers: teachers who are prosperous, competent and evenly distributed throughout Indonesia.

Next, equalizing the other seven education standards. Consistent and directed policies for the improvement of education are the key. The Merdeka Belajar movement, without following these efforts, is like a horse-drawn carriage; this country will not move forward if the horse that pulls it lags behind.

This article was translated by Tenggara Strategics.