MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA — President of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, highlighted the profound challenges facing Indonesia’s national education system. He emphasized that education must not overlook the values of Pancasila, religion, and the nation’s noble culture.
Haedar also expressed concern about Indonesia’s position in the Human Development Index (HDI), which remains lagging behind other Southeast Asian countries. The nation’s competitiveness is also below average, and in terms of intelligence, Indonesia still struggles to achieve the desired level.
“This means that national education is still not on par with other countries,” said Haedar in the National Education Day on Thursday (May 2nd). He stressed that the task of national education policymakers is to improve the quality of education to achieve a superior and sustainable level.
According to Haedar, this process requires strong commitment, as education is a long-term and strategic process that demands consistency. He emphasized that while changes in education ministers are common, the continuity of national education policies should not be disrupted.
Haedar also underscored the crucial role of the private sector in developing education in Indonesia, particularly those based on socio-religious movements. He emphasized that institutions like Muhammadiyah, Nahdlatul Ulama, and Taman Siswa have a long history of making significant contributions to national education and the struggle for independence.
“Therefore, it is naive to marginalize the role of private social-religious institutions in formulating national education policies. Instead, policies should be integrative and proportional,” asserted Haedar.
He explained that competition between state and private education, especially those based on religion and non-profit community organizations, should be seen as a potential to build Indonesian education together. Haedar emphasized that pitting these two sectors against each other will only hinder efforts to develop education holistically.
Haedar’s statement highlighted the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors to enhance the quality of national education. Only by working together can Indonesia build an inclusive and equitable education system and drive educational progress for future generations.
Beyond highlighting policy and education structure aspects, Haedar also reminded the importance of building an Indonesian generation with strong character and soul. He emphasized that national education should not merely be a factory that produces “worker robots” devoid of soul and intellect.
“Building Indonesia through education should encompass both body and soul,” Haedar asserted. He stated that it is a distortion if education only produces individuals who are mechanical and lack depth of character.
Furthermore, Haedar emphasized that Indonesian education should produce individuals who are strong in their religiosity, rooted in faith and piety, with noble character, knowledgeable, proficient in technology, and skilled in various fields. They are also expected to be individuals with a social spirit, capable of living in a spirit of mutual cooperation and contributing to the progress of society.
Haedar’s message underscores the importance of building holistic education, which prioritizes not only academic and technical aspects but also emphasizes the development of strong character and soul for the nation’s future generations. Only through such a comprehensive approach can Indonesia produce highly competitive individuals who make meaningful contributions to building a better nation.
