What Education has Taught Me

I’ve been studying in the formal education institution since a long time ago. But, since I becoming university student, I just realized that we were trapped on chaotic problems education system. I think, the main problem is people’s mind construction about their respectful toward diversity.

As the common issues, we can’t against the diversity of thought, religion, ethnic group, gender, social and economic status, physically n mental condition. But, why the government seems like won’t to accept that situation? For example, in the past, when new era of Soeharto’s governmental cabinet (that call ‘orde baru’ in Indonesia) my comprehension about our state history is constructed by government’s false consciousness. For example; let me ask you a question; What do you think about socialism and communism? A cruel community? Killed everybody who believe in God on 1966? A dirt ideology that must against by all of us? Many research reported that’s not true. The lesson of history for elementary, junior, and high school students are constructed by orde baru for their corrupt system, sustainability of status quo and give a way for capitalism to grow up in Indonesia. A high obligation, financial crisis, so many chaos in the big cities and the explosion of people’s revolt are reasonable consequences that must paid by government on 1998. Finally, reformation told the truth. Although a few truth has revealed, it didn’t mean that social condition post-1998 reformation are so much better. Many civil groups who struggle for orde baru’s fall out and forming new age of democracy are uncertain about what kind of system must bring to a better change.

Since orde baru governmental cabinet had been dominated political system, all sector are controlled include the education institutions. They caught everybody who have different thought that may harmful for the government. They against diversity with a policy that make we must wear uniform, an developmentalism mind construction about education parameters which is so far away from local culture approach and humanism aspect, segregation of schools (many examples; international school with expensive fee, special school for disable student, final grade standardization for every level of school n etc). Why they must be segregated? Because they are not be able to access education together with other students? I thought that’s false. Many research reported that multicultural and inclusive education are good for academic and social condition student’s grow. Although that, terrible system of education as like happen in orde baru is still turning now.

Once upon a time, I ask a question to my self; if the diversity around us, why the system must made the same standardization? In fact, when the government make some kind of multicultural education policy, at the same time, they decided homogeneous standardization education policy. In other condition, the poor still can’t access high cost of education in university.

Every human have their ability and disability right? Every ethnic group have their local genius and necessary right? So why we don’t make a cultural approach on learning system? And every human have their own rights to access education, no matter what their condition. Because education is very important for human development. Its can be a kind of way to make poor people free from poverty. Education is helping the child realize his potentialities, likes Erich Fromm said.

Someone ask me that to escape criticism, do nothing, say nothing and be nothing. If I want to change, just take my times to make a small and simple change. I knew that the problems in education is so hard to finish. I have a dream to make a non-formal simple school for all students who can’t access formal education. What a stupid idea, right? But now, me and my community is still dream and try to help people who can’t access formal education with small and simple way. Because, I didn’t too worried about wrong education, but I more worried if there are illiterate people can’t access education at all.