Introduce English from Class I

Posted on August 31, 2007
Filed Under Culture, Indonesia

India’s National Knowledge Commission (NKC), a high-level advisory body to the Prime Minister of India, has recommended “teaching English as a compulsory subject along with regional language/mother tongue from Class I across the country.”

In its released statement to the press on January 12, NKC explains the rationale behind such recommendation (emphasis is mine):

“… we are convinced that action in this sphere, starting now, would help us build an inclusive society and transform India into a knowledge society. In just 12 years it would provide our school-leavers with far more equal access to higher education and 3-5 years thereafter, much more equal access to employment opportunities.”

Well, so far as getting international jobs goes, I could not agree more with that opinion. Indonesia’s higher educational institutions have enough capability to produce a good high skill workforce, particularly such institution as ITB Bandung, UGM Yogyakarta, UI Jakarta, ITS Surabaya. But the fact remains Indonesia cannot export those high-skill workers abroad. We are more known around Asia as TKI/TKW* exporting country.

So, had I been an Indonesian president, or an Educational Minister, I would not wait for that kind of recommendation to start with. It’s crystal clear that Indonesia in its current context need to introduce English, beside Bahasa Indonesia, as a language from Class I (SD) to enable our youngsters having equal opportunity, in practical or in larger sense, in international arena.

I’ve been to Saudi Arabia several times for Haj and met with several Indonesian workers there. What saddened me a lot was that many of them are holding a bachelor degree from various Indonesian universities! One of them I met and talked directly was an ITB graduate!