Why Indonesia’s Gen Zs Struggle To Thrive: Poor Education Standards, Low Wage Jobs

Summary

The script highlights the struggles of young Indonesians facing a lack of opportunities and education quality. Aris, a 19-year-old construction worker, discusses his journey from dreaming of opening a motorbike workshop to working in construction to make ends meet. The video explores Indonesia's educational crisis, with low-quality teaching and outdated reforms impacting student outcomes. New initiatives like the 'Merdeka Belajar' platform aim to improve teaching, but challenges remain, especially in remote areas. Despite the hurdles, ambitious students and teachers continue striving for better education and a brighter future.

Takeaways

• 😀 Aris, a young worker in construction, earns more money (IDR 3 million) through overtime compared to minimum wage jobs in factories or offices.
• 😀 Many young people in Indonesia are forced to take low-skill, low-pay jobs due to limited opportunities and a lack of social protection.
• 😀 Indonesia's education system ranks poorly internationally, with a significant decline in PISA scores over the years, highlighting challenges in reading, math, and science skills.
• 😀 The government has struggled to improve the quality of teaching, as many teachers are unqualified or underpaid, contributing to the low standard of education.
• 😀 In 2015, Indonesia produced an oversupply of teachers, despite only needing 50,000 to 100,000, which led to a decrease in teacher quality.
• 😀 The Merdeka Belajar reforms aim to improve education by focusing on the learning process, project-based learning, and teacher empowerment.
• 😀 The Platform Merdeka Mengajar (PMM) is a digital tool introduced to support teachers with curriculum resources, creating better classroom engagement and motivating teachers.
• 😀 Despite positive feedback from teachers using the PMM, access remains an issue, especially in remote areas with limited internet access.
• 😀 Teachers are encouraged to engage in a community for inspiration and shared resources, helping them improve their teaching practices and gain recognition for their contributions.
• 😀 Indonesia's educational reforms show promise but require time to demonstrate tangible results, with the hope of becoming internationally competitive by 2025.

Q & A

Why does Aris prefer working at a construction site over a factory or office job?

Aris prefers working at a construction site because he can earn more money, up to IDR 3 million (US$190) in two weeks if he works the maximum amount of overtime, compared to a factory or office job which pays the minimum wage.

What was Aris's initial dream before working in construction?

Aris's initial dream was to open a motorbike workshop, but he didn't have enough money, so he turned to construction work to make ends meet.

How does Aris manage when it rains at his construction site?

When it rains, Aris is forced to sleep while being soaking wet. If he moves outside, it would be too cold, so he stays where he is, using a mat to keep his back from getting too wet.

Why are many young people in Indonesia turning to informal sector jobs?

Many young people in Indonesia are turning to informal sector jobs because the competition for formal jobs is tough, and many lack the skills required for higher-paying positions, leading them to seek short-term, often lower-paid work.

How does Indonesia's education system contribute to the country’s workforce challenges?

Indonesia’s education system contributes to workforce challenges because many students are functionally illiterate, meaning they can read but do not understand what they read. This results in a low-skilled labor force, which affects the country’s economic growth potential.

What is the role of the Merdeka Belajar initiative in improving education in Indonesia?

The Merdeka Belajar initiative, including the Platform Merdeka Mengajar (PMM), aims to improve education by offering teachers access to updated curriculum resources and fostering a sense of community among educators, which helps enhance learning environments and teacher motivation.

What does the PISA score measure, and how has Indonesia performed on it?

The PISA score measures reading, math, and science skills. Indonesia has consistently ranked poorly, ranking 69th out of 81 countries in 2022, down from 3rd-last place in 2000, indicating a long-term decline in educational performance.

How did Indonesia's focus on teacher training contribute to the current quality of education?

Indonesia’s overemphasis on expanding teacher training programs led to a surplus of university-trained teachers, many of whom were not qualified to teach effectively. The lack of a focus on quality teacher selection contributed to the low quality of education.

What challenges are teachers in Indonesia facing when using the Merdeka Mengajar platform?

One major challenge is that not all teachers, particularly those in remote areas, are aware of the Merdeka Mengajar platform or lack access to the internet, limiting the platform’s potential impact.

What impact has the Merdeka Mengajar platform had on teachers and students?

The Merdeka Mengajar platform has shown positive impacts by improving classroom engagement, creating better learning environments, and motivating teachers. It has made teachers feel more ownership of their profession, leading to enhanced student learning outcomes.