http://www.ucanews.com/news/catholic-educators-back-indonesia-bid-to-stop-intolerance/78220
Catholic educators back Indonesia bid to stop intolerance
Teaching traditional values in schools seen as a way to silence the call of
extremism
Franciscan Father Vinsensius Darmin Mbula, chairman of the National Council of
Catholic Education, agrees with the Indonesian government's emphasis on
character building of students in an effort to curb extremism and intolerance.
(Photo by Ryan Dagur)
Katharina R. Lestari, Jakarta
Indonesia January 30, 2017
Catholic educators welcomed a government plan to involve schools and teachers
in the fight against intolerance by having them teach the values of state
philosophy.
Education Minister Muhadjir Effendy said recently that the ministry would teach
the tenets of Pancasila ("five principles") in all elementary and junior high
schools through special activities rather than conventional teaching methods.
Indonesian philosophy, Pancasila, stipulates belief in one God, a just and
civilized society, a united Indonesia, democracy guided by consensus, and
social justice for all citizens.
Making these principles properly understood and liveable in daily life can
serve as a solution to curb the intolerance and radicalism that threatens
national unity. The minister suggested that schools spend eight hours a week on
these subjects, in the classroom and during extra-curricular activities.
Franciscan Father Vinsensius Darmin Mbula, chairman of the National Council of
Catholic Education, said that the government's plan is in line with principles
emphasized by Catholic schools.
"Catholic schools have long committed to instil these values in students," he
told ucanews.com.
However, with growing intolerance in the country, all efforts must be geared to
re-actualize traditional values and support Indonesian educators and
institutions if needed, the priest said.
Earlier, President Joko Widodo called on teachers and schools to focus on
character-building activities and teaching students the values of democracy,
following a series of mass rallies held by hard-line group the Islamic
Defenders Front in 2016 in Jakarta to demand the city's Christian governor,
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama be put to death for blasphemy.
Galdinus Olva, a teacher at the Catholic-run, Marsudirini Elementary School in
East Jakarta, acknowledged that many students have a poor understanding of the
basic value of communal life, partly because teachers lack the knowledge and
skills to teach the subject.
"The plan will be effective if the government can firstly provide teachers with
adequate skills," he said and also provide them with relevant text books to
avoid mistakes.
The teacher said that the government must also involve parents in implementing
values by having them monitor students' activities outside school.
"We spend only one hour a week teaching good values to students," he said,
which is not enough.
According to 2014 data from the Central Statistics Bureau, elementary students
nationwide numbered 26.5 million and were taught by 1.5 million teachers,
including those at Catholic schools, while junior high school students numbered
9.7 million and were guided by 590,000 teachers
Indra Charismiadji, a Catholic education consultant, also agreed with the
government's plan, but he said that it would take time to reach fruition.
"Educators must be like Jesus, who teaches parables, not doctrines," he said.
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