Ki Hajar Dewantara as the Father of Education
Source: edukasi.kompas.com
Raden Mas Soewardi Soerjaningrat or commonly known as Ki Hajar Dewantara was born in Yogyakarta on May 2nd, 1889. He has a father named Kanjeng Pangeran Haryo Soeryaningrat and a mother named Raden Ayu Sandiah who is a descendant of the royal aristocrat Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono I. He was part of the royal family so that he could get a proper education compared to people in general during the Dutch colonial period at that time.
Source: minews.id
He started his educational journey at Europeesche Lagere School (ELS), a Dutch elementary school. After that, he continued his education at a teacher school in Yogyakarta called Kweekschool. During his study in Kweekschool, he was offered a scholarship in STOVIA. He stopped his current studies and entered STOVIA (School tot Opleiding van Inlandsche Artsen) in Batavia, which is now the capital city of Indonesia (Jakarta). However, during that time, he quit school after four months due to his health condition.
Source: mmc.tirto.id
After leaving medical school, Ki Hajar Dewantara worked as a journalist in several newspapers such as De Express, Midden Java, Sedyotomo, and so on. He also met important Indonesian figures such as Soetomo, Douwes Dekker, and Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo at the medical school because they were active in organizations. He once joined a political party, the Indische Partij, to criticize the Dutch government.
Ki Hajar Dewantara was once exiled to the Netherlands because of his writings. The article contained harsh criticism of the Dutch colonial government at that time. It could revive the enthusiasm of the Indonesian people to fight against the Dutch government. However, Ki Hajar Dewantara’s exile to the Netherlands did not stop him from studying.
Source: psr.ustjogja.ac.id
After returning to Indonesia, Ki Hajar Dewantara founded an organization called Taman Siswa. This organization aims to provide education to all Indonesian people so that they could get a proper education. After Indonesia’s independence, Ki Hajar Dewantara was appointed as the first minister of education. May 2nd, the birth date of Ki Hajar Dewantara, is also designated as a day of education in Indonesia. It is an appreciation to Ki Hajar Dewantara for his concern for education in Indonesia.
Source: dosenpendidikan.co.id
Ki Hajar Dewantara also left behind several mottoes that are quite well-known in Indonesian education. Those are Ing Ngarso Sung Tuladha, Ing Madya Mangun Karsa, and Tut Wuri Handayani. Ing Ngarso Sung Tuladha means those in front must be role models for those behind them. Ing Madya Mangun Karsa means those in the middle must build or give enthusiasm, will, or intention to those in front and behind. Tut Wuri Handayani means the one behind, encouraging those in front.
References:
https://lifestyle.kontan.co.id/news/biografi-ki-hajar-dewantara-bapak-pendidikan-indonesia?page=all
https://tirto.id/tiga-serangkai-indische-partij-dalam-sejarah-pergerakan-nasional-gaRW
Image Sources:
https://www.minews.id/kisah/stovia-sekolah-kedokteran-yang-banyak-melahirkan-tokoh-sumpah-pemuda
https://mmc.tirto.id/image/otf/700×0/2017/11/14/pakaian-gaya-eropa–wikicommon_ratio-16×9.jpg
http://psr.ustjogja.ac.id/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PENDOPO-TAMANSISWA-9.jpg
https://www.dosenpendidikan.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Biografi-Ki-Hajar-Dewantara.jpg.webp
