INDONESIA: Currently, there has been ongoing discussion about the possibility of curriculum changes due to the appointment of the new Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (MoECRT) by the current President, Mr. Prabowo Subianto. It often feels like a recurring phenomenon though. When leadership changes, so does the curriculum. Therefore, while this isn’t a new issue, it remains an important topic of discussion. 

In this post, we will be discussing reports from two news outlets. The first is Detik News, featuring an article titled “Anggota Komisi X DPR: Jangan Gonta-ganti Kurikulum, Sesuaikan Saja” (Member of Commission X of the House of Representatives: “Don’t Keep Changing the Curriculum, Just Adjust It”), published on November 8, 2024. The second is Tempo News, with its article “Legislator PDIP Minta Mendikdasmen Tak Gonta-ganti Kurikulum: Sesuaikan Saja” (PDIP Legislator Asks Education Minister Not to Keep Changing the Curriculum: Just Adjust It), published on November 9, 2024. 

Both news highlighted the focus of the discussion on the point delivered by one member of commission, Sofyan Tan, who hardly criticize the discourse and warn the government not to keep changing the curriculum. The new appointed Ministry, Mr. Abdul Mu”ti said that currently the ministry will conduct evaluation about the policies. “What’s the point of changing the minister if the policies remain the same?” he remarked, as quoted by Tempo. Tan in his argument to the Minister, proposed to do the adjustment of the current Merdeka (Freedom) curriculum rather than to change the curriculum because the impact is significant, not only to the teachers but also the students.

Overall, Tempo News provides more details on Tan’s discussion and points than Detik News. To begin with, Tempo refers to Tan as a member of the PDI party, the current opposition to the government, whereas Detik News simply calls him one of the members of Commission X. Beside the party’s stance, this distinction also implies to “inform” readers that this individual or party understands their concerns and is working to voice them. Regardless of the intentions, Tan’s arguments are worth considering. As quoted by Tempo News, Tan stated, “The change in curriculum will affect more than 3 million teachers. I feel sorry for them, as they’ll have to go back to learning and adapting to a new curriculum. They were already having difficulties with the previous one.” His point is valid, as there is ongoing discourse around the practicality of implementing the curriculum (before and now), especially for schools with limited access. He also highlighted the gap in infrastructure and resources across Indonesia, the geographic and socio-economic problems which significantly impacts children in remote areas who have limited access. Therefore, he advocates for improving access and focusing on the well-being of teachers, as many teachers in Indonesia are still underpaid. The current appointed Minister believes that his presence should bring innovations and breakthrough to solve the problems in education sector. He also emphasizes that several good things that were already in place can indeed be continued. They will certainly work through the evaluations to further make decisions about this.

From this case, we learned that Dynamic leadership can be a catalyst for innovation in education, but it can also introduce a whirlwind of chaos. Power dynamics play a significant role in defining policies, influencing both individual and group stances, and shaping the aspirations these entities bring forward. Leaders come from diverse backgrounds and approach their roles differently, each with varying focuses and objectives to accomplish. As the world evolves, generating more innovation to make the education system more effective and efficient is crucial. However, it is equally important to consider the frontline educators and their schools, the resources available to them, and the socio-economic challenges they face. Wishing for a better education system for Indonesia. Looking forward, positively.

References:

Don’t Keep Changing the Curriculum, Just Adjust It
Aisyah, N. (2024, November 8). Anggota Komisi X DPR: Jangan gonta-ganti kurikulum, sesuaikan saja. Detikedu. https://www.detik.com/edu/sekolah/d-7628544/anggota-komisi-x-dpr-jangan-gonta-ganti-kurikulum-sesuaikan-saja

PDIP Legislator Asks Education Minister Not to Keep Changing the Curriculum: Just Adjust It

Febiola, A., & Chairunnisa, N. (2024, November 9). Legislator PDIP minta Mendikdasmen tak gonta-ganti Kurikulum: Sesuaikan saja. Tempo. https://www.tempo.co/politik/legislator-pdip-minta-mendikdasmen-tak-gonta-ganti-kurikulum-sesuaikan-saja-1165863