Some decades ago Ki Hajar Dewantara with his statement: “Education in Indonesia must be founded based on what people needs”. At that time, it could be “an oasis in a dessert” when Indonesian had no freedom for having education in a school and when Dutch Government with their colonialism conquered Indonesia. We all know that education at that time were just for rich people, everyone who was from poor family might not have education in a public school, especially for women, they were only allowed for having study until second level, and they had to be at home after finishing their study. That reality grew along with the Indonesian mindset: Feudalism for many years until Ki Hajar Dewantara and others Indonesian pioneer came and made some revolutionary mindset.
If we talk about the Indonesian education history and its development records, before we declared The National Independence, we may think that Indonesian Education were raped by the Dutch Government system. We had no opportunities for having school, and illiteration were very common. This statement could be true.
But nowadays, illiteration is still common. Although, we have been already independent. Education is for only rich people. This is a new reality that have grown along with the people mindset over education itself. All people know that education is very important. Without education, it’s impossible for a nation to survive. But the opportunity for having education is still difficult for some people today. In fact, there are so many children out of school. Some children have to have a job outside their home because of limited economical level.
We know that children age or youth is for studying. They need to learn everything they haven’t known. They have a right for that. But today there are still some people illiterate.
This fact may be contradictive, in other side children from rich people have chances for studying in an expensive school. They spend a lot of money to pay their school fee. They get expensive facilities to be smart. They have to spend Rp. 800.000 per month or may be more just for having a good education easily, but for other people they have to owe around Rp. 10.000 – Rp. 20.000 in order to be still at school.
So, what is the difference between the Indonesian before and after Independence Day? Isn’t that similar to our condition before, when we were conquered by The Dutch Government System. Until appears a statement among our people:
Education is a process, in order to be success there are three main important aspects of Education:
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The Students: willingness for learning (of course must be backed up by their parents)
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Educational Institution, such as the tutor or teacher, facilities, and also appropriate curriculum. the last and the most important one;
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Money, to fulfill all of two aspects before.
Based on the statement above, Is there an appropriate education qualities in our country? How can we be smart if we don’t study.
Perhaps the Javanese statement: “Jer Basuki Mawa Bea” is true. It means that everything we need, included education needs money. It can be concluded that if we want to be smart we have to have a lot of money.
Finally, I think there is no differences between the old feudalism and nowadays. We can call it as “New Education Feudalism”. We are raped by our own nation. Everyone are trying to get advantages for himself. A question appears in my mind: “When will this condition be over?”
DeWAntA-99 
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