Education Reform in Indonesia

Summary

Indonesia's new educational reform, 'Merdeka' or 'Freedom of Learning,' focuses on comprehension over memorization, with an emphasis on creative, open-ended questions. The reform aims to improve reading and comprehension skills by transitioning from traditional methods to digital learning, character building, and a competency-based assessment. The new approach includes a shift from the Ujian Nasional to a competency exam, which will assess students' character, literacy, numeracy, and educational progress at different stages of their schooling. The goal is to foster individuality, creativity, and innovation, empowering students to think outside the box and become independent learners.

Takeaways

• 😀 Indonesia's education system has been underperforming in comparison to OECD countries in areas like reading and comprehension, prompting the need for reform.
• 😀 The new educational reform, called 'Freedom of Learning' (Merdeka), aims to prioritize comprehension over memorization for a deeper understanding of subjects.
• 😀 The Freedom of Learning movement focuses on four core concepts: comprehension, digital learning, character building, and a new competency assessment exam.
• 😀 The new competency exam replaces the traditional Ujian Nasional, which had been in place for decades, and will be issued to different grade levels: 4th, 8th, and 11th graders.
• 😀 Comprehension is emphasized over memorization, with open-ended and creative questions replacing traditional multiple-choice exams to encourage critical thinking and better indicators of intelligence.
• 😀 Digital learning has gained prominence, especially post-COVID-19, as it reduces commuting and tuition costs while increasing access to education for more students across Indonesia.
• 😀 Two-thirds of Indonesians have internet access, meaning 67% of the population can participate in digital learning.
• 😀 Character building is a key aspect of the reform, aiming to create psychologically secure environments in schools where students feel safe to be creative and make mistakes.
• 😀 The reform encourages self-awareness in students, helping them understand their strengths and weaknesses to foster growth and independence in learning.
• 😀 The goal of the Freedom of Learning movement is to create a student-centric system where students drive their own learning, with teachers acting as facilitators.
• 😀 The Freedom of Learning reform will help reignite creativity, imagination, and innovation among students, allowing them to think outside the box and reach their full potential.

Q & A

What is the main objective of Indonesia's new educational reform called 'Freedom of Learning'?

The main objective of the 'Freedom of Learning' reform is to shift from memorization to comprehension, allowing students to better understand and apply knowledge. The reform aims to promote creativity, imagination, and critical thinking skills in students.

How has Indonesia been performing in comparison to OECD countries in education, and why is this important for the reform?

Indonesia has been performing relatively low in comparison to OECD countries in reading and comprehension. This gap highlights the need for educational reform to improve student learning outcomes and better prepare the future generation.

What are the four core concepts of the 'Freedom of Learning' reform?

The four core concepts of the reform are: 1) Comprehension, 2) Digital Learning, 3) Character Building, and 4) the new Competency Assessment Exam.

What does the reform mean by 'Comprehension over Memorization'?

'Comprehension over Memorization' means shifting away from rote learning and memorization techniques towards a focus on understanding the material deeply. This approach encourages critical thinking and the ability to apply knowledge in real-world situations.

How does the new educational reform plan to achieve 'Comprehension over Memorization' in assessments?

The reform proposes using open-ended and creative questions in assessments instead of traditional multiple-choice questions. This approach encourages students to think critically and go beyond memorized textbook answers.

How did COVID-19 influence the educational reform in Indonesia?

COVID-19 highlighted the effectiveness of online learning, showing that education is not confined to a physical classroom. It underscored the potential of digital learning to reduce costs, eliminate commutes, and expand access to education.

What are the two biggest barriers to quality education in Indonesia, and how can digital learning help address these barriers?

The two biggest barriers are commute and tuition fees. Digital learning can help by reducing the need for physical infrastructure and lowering costs, which in turn can help reduce tuition fees and improve access to education.

What does 'Character Building' mean in the context of this educational reform?

Character Building involves fostering psychological security within students so they feel safe to be creative, ask questions, and make mistakes. It also includes promoting self-awareness, where students recognize their strengths and weaknesses and work on personal growth.

How will the new Competency Assessment Exam differ from the previous Ujian Nasional?

The new Competency Assessment Exam will focus on character surveys, literacy, numeracy, and character education strengthening, as opposed to the subject-based format of the previous Ujian Nasional. It will be given to 4th, 8th, and 11th graders, instead of 6th, 9th, and 12th graders.

What is the significance of customization in the new educational reform?

Customization refers to recognizing that every student learns differently and has unique potential. The reform encourages schools to respect individual learning styles and work with students to help them achieve their maximum potential, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.