Education is not Just a Formality

Most of us understand what is meant by being educated, but few understand the true meaning of education.

Most of us certainly understand what is meant by education, but not enough who understand the true meaning of education. Based on the available literature, the resolution of education is the learning of knowledge, skills, and expertise, which is passed on from one generation to the next through collection, training, or research. In English, the word education is called Education where the etymological word comes from Latin, namely Educatum The word Educatum consists of two words, namely E which means development from the inside out, and Duco which means that which is developing. The meaning of education is the process of developing individual abilities and strengths. So, a brief understanding of education is a learning process for students to provide an understanding of something and to develop someone towards critical thinking.

Based on the definition of education from the first paragraph, then it becomes the basis of how important each individual gets an education. This assumption is certainly not solely because education has become a formality for most people, but the importance of education is far deeper than we think. Everything that is done certainly has its purpose, as well as education. In general, education has the aim to educate and develop the potential within learners. With the growth of intelligence and the development of self-potential, each individual can have knowledge, creativity, physical and spiritual health, and have noble character and become a member of society that is responsible for the nation. Of course, with the formation of intellectual individuals, the purpose of education is not only focused on the interests of each individual but on how each individual can implement his knowledge for the country to create new ideas that support national development and realization for prosperity. Because the rise and fall of a country are very dependent on every nation’s sons and daughters who are in it.

Tragic, knowing that our country is only ranked fifth out of ten countries in ASEAN. Indonesia still lost to the closest countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam. According to PISA report data (a program that ranks the quality of the education system in 72 countries) in 2015, Indonesia ranks second from the bottom or ranks 71 out of 72 countries. So what is the background of this? Indonesia invests a lot of resources in the field of education, ranked fourth out of 69 countries ranked by PISA. Education dominates Indonesia’s social spending and 20 percent of Indonesia’s budget is allocated to fund and facilitate the education sector. This does not mean that all schools in Indonesia have adequate facilities. There is still a lot of news that shows how difficult it is for students to take the road to their schools due to various limitations of facilities and infrastructure that should be of concern to the government, not even the damaged roads that are a barrier to learning, but also school buildings with poor conditions. How would you like to become a person who develops in knowledge if you don’t develop supporting facilities? Primary and secondary education in Indonesia, based on an article by Youth Corps Indonesia has not been able to prepare students with the critical and analytical thinking skills as a scientist needs and has not been able to inspire students to become researchers in any field. This is unfortunate in fact because every university in Indonesia expects a generation of high potential and dedicated as support in expanding research and increasing its position in the international world. There are still many errors in the paradigm of our society which conclude that someone’s success in the field of education is when they succeed in entering into the country’s leading tertiary institutions without seeing what targets have been achieved other than graduating with satisfactory grades. A breakthrough is needed to change the paradigm because the target of education is successfully given to every individual where they are able to implement their knowledge to produce a work that builds and advances the nation not only as a long title, but also plays a role in building the nation with intelligence embedded in in each of them. According to the former minister of Education and Culture based on an article by KOMPAS.com, Prof. Dr. Doed Joesoef said, “The strength and strength of a nation lie in the field of education.” “The education paradigm must be built far ahead, must be able to observe and solve the problems and challenges to be faced.”

Along with the times and Indonesia has a target to enter the industrial revolution 4.0, many things become our common challenges to be able to face the revolution. Again in the field of education, the government has made every effort to create an increase in the quality of education in all regions of Indonesia evenly with a decentralized budget by strengthening the synergy between the central government and regional governments. Then, how education can produce the right skills. Based on an article by Kementerian Keuangan Republik Indonesia, the government currently allocates the highest budget in the state budget, not for the military but education by 20 percent. Not only from the government, but the government also involves the private sector to participate in education. One of them is by providing incentives such as tax exemptions for literature books, tax incentives for research and vocational training and education endowments for research. With conditions that are increasingly facilitated in the field of education, as educated and conscious individuals we must use them to the maximum extent possible in learning because what we get is what we will use to give back to the nation. We have to start changing our thinking. education about education is only a formality to find work to meet personal interests. Because education is also to produce future generations of the nation that can provide change and a positive impact on the progress and prosperity of the Indonesian people. This is the time for us to get out of this downturn and start showing our validation as a nation capable of developing internationally. As said by the president of the United States, John F Kennedy “Don’t ask what the state gives you, but ask what you give to your country.”