Pendekatan 'Deep Learning' untuk Pendidikan Indonesia #KONTROVERSI

Summary

In this interview, Professor Abul Mukti, Indonesia's Minister of Education, discusses the ongoing educational reforms under President Prabowo Subianto’s government. He addresses key issues like teacher welfare, the controversial zoning system, and the future of Indonesia’s curriculum. While acknowledging the persistence of dual curriculums (K13 and Merdeka), Mukti emphasizes the importance of the new Deep Learning approach, which prioritizes meaningful and reflective learning. He also touches upon future plans to introduce coding and artificial intelligence in schools, despite infrastructure challenges. The conversation reveals Mukti's cautious, thoughtful approach to education reform, balancing innovation with the country’s diverse regional needs.

Takeaways

• 😀 Prof. Mukti emphasized that changing ministers does not automatically lead to changes in the curriculum. New policies are more likely to stem from the need for new strategies rather than just personnel changes.
• 😀 Despite having two national curricula (K13 and Merdeka), Prof. Mukti stressed that the curriculum itself is not as important as how it is implemented. He clarified that understanding concepts, like calculating the area of a triangle, doesn’t change with the curriculum.
• 😀 A key focus of the new educational approach under Prof. Mukti is 'Deep Learning,' which encourages more reflective, meaningful, and mindful learning, moving away from rote learning and towards understanding.
• 😀 'Deep Learning' aims to reduce the overload of material by selecting the most essential topics, allowing for deeper exploration, making education more engaging for both teachers and students.
• 😀 The curriculum change will focus on incorporating subjects like coding and artificial intelligence (AI), beginning as early as elementary school, but will be optional rather than mandatory.
• 😀 Prof. Mukti acknowledged that the implementation of new subjects like coding might be challenging for schools without the necessary infrastructure or trained teachers.
• 😀 Although the curriculum may evolve to include new subjects such as coding and AI, it will remain a choice for students, as the infrastructure and teacher preparedness vary across schools.
• 😀 Prof. Mukti revealed that the 'Deep Learning' approach has been tested internationally, particularly in Scandinavian countries, which have shown significant educational progress with fewer but deeper topics taught.
• 😀 While some schools have already begun teaching coding at a young age, it remains a pilot program in certain regions like Aceh and Central Sulawesi, often conducted offline (unplugged) to avoid infrastructure barriers.
• 😀 Prof. Mukti is cautious about rushing into decisions regarding curriculum changes, recognizing that education in Indonesia is highly varied by region and is influenced by local political dynamics and governance structures.

Q & A

What has the Indonesian Ministry of Education focused on in terms of teacher welfare?

The Ministry has increased the budget to improve the welfare of teachers, including ASN (Civil Servant Teachers), PNS, P3K, and non-ASN teachers.

What is the current stance on the zoning policy for education in Indonesia?

The zoning policy is being actively reconsidered. The Minister of Education, Prof. Mukti, has stated that the policy should be abolished due to the ongoing controversies surrounding it.

How does the Indonesian Ministry of Education view the issue of curriculum changes when there is a new minister?

The Ministry does not always change the curriculum with every new minister. However, changes in policy are expected to align with new leadership and their priorities.

What is the difference between the two existing curricula in Indonesia—K13 and the Merdeka curriculum?

Currently, two curricula are in use: K13 and the Merdeka curriculum. Both are recognized as national curricula, and the decision on which to use is up to the schools. There is no immediate plan to completely discard either.

What is the new approach in learning that Prof. Mukti is promoting?

Prof. Mukti is advocating for 'Deep Learning,' which focuses on meaningful and reflective learning. This approach encourages students to deeply understand the material and see its relevance to their careers.

What is the goal behind the Deep Learning approach in Indonesian education?

The goal is to make learning more engaging, productive, and enjoyable. By focusing on essential topics, the aim is to make education more comprehensive and thoughtful rather than merely covering a vast amount of content superficially.

Will there be any changes in the subjects taught under the new learning approach?

There may be changes in the subject matter, focusing on essential topics. However, the subjects themselves will largely remain the same, with some potential new areas like artificial intelligence (AI) and coding being introduced as optional subjects in schools.

Why is coding not being made a mandatory subject in schools?

Coding is not yet mandatory due to infrastructure limitations. While the required technology may not be expensive, teacher training is still a significant barrier, and not all schools are ready to implement it.

When is coding expected to become a part of the curriculum, and what will its status be?

Coding will be introduced as an optional subject starting in 2025-2026, with some schools already offering it as an elective. The subject will not be compulsory due to varying levels of readiness across schools.

What challenges are there in implementing the new learning approach in Indonesia?

One of the main challenges is the significant variation in the quality of education across regions in Indonesia. The readiness of teachers and schools to adopt the Deep Learning approach is a concern, as well as the local autonomy in managing educational policies.