Losing direction, perhaps that is the right word to describe what is happening now in the world of Indonesian education. The thing is, said Dr. H. Dede Yusuf Macan Effendi, ST, MI. Pol, Deputy Chair of Commission X DPR RI, Indonesia does not yet have a road map in the education sector. He hopes that during the term of President-Elect Prabowo Subianto, an education road map will soon be established and it can become a guide for all.

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In fact, the fact that Indonesia does not yet have an education road map is a sad thing. Especially in the midst of fierce global competition. One wrong step, this nation will be left far behind among the nations of the world amidst the rapid progress of science and technology.

As a people's representative from the West Java II Electoral District, Dede Yusuf criticized the importance of the education road map. “The road map for where we want to go in education must be clear. Anything can change but education policy cannot. "The problem is that education is a long-term investment, don't change the government to change policies," he stressed.

The issue of increasing the UKT (single tuition fee) for PTN students which received such great resistance is one of the problems that has arisen. The government, according to the man who was Deputy Governor of West Java from 2008-2013, should carry out the constitutional mandate, namely to make education cheap and affordable. It's not like now that education is expensive, even though it is carried out by government-owned educational institutions.

As a legislator from the Democratic Party, Dede Yusuf hopes that President-elect Prabowo Subianto will choose ministers who are competent in dealing with education issues. "Anyone who will be entrusted with the position of Minister of Education must really know what the problems are in our world of education now and in the future. "And we must have an educational road map so that it can become a reference and direction in developing our world of education," he emphasized to Edy Suherli, Bambang Eros, and Irfan Medianto from VOI who met him at the JW Marriott Hotel, Jakarta not long ago. Here is an excerpt from the full interview.

Education is important for a nation. Has our government paid attention to the education sector?

Education is the backbone of a nation. Indonesia has natural resources. There are also countries that are strong with trade and services, Singapore for example. There are countries with large populations such as China, India and Indonesia. To exploit this potential, human resources are needed to manage it. Skilled human resources are obtained through education.

The law mandates that education is funded by the state, especially primary and secondary education. In the last 40 years we have still struggled with primary and secondary education, from 9 years of compulsory education to 12 years of compulsory education. The development of the global world not only demands primary and secondary education, which is called secondary education, but also tertiary education, namely education at the tertiary level. Currently, higher education is a necessity, because this competency is needed to process natural resources and other potential. Honestly, we are not optimal for higher education.

This is connected to the current condition when the UKT will be raised by PTN, how to deal with this problem?

Our findings are that education at PTN is actually expensive, even though it shouldn't be, so that more people have the opportunity to receive higher education. What is unique is that private universities, which are not of world caliber, such as PTS Muhammadiyah, PTS NU, PTS Persis and PTS owned by other religious and non-religious organizations, can actually be more affordable. My friends and I at Commission X DPR RI discovered the fact that the government has reduced subsidies for PTNs. They then looked for their own funds. This is different from private universities which every year think about looking for independent financing. Because they don't know how to find sources of funds, it ends up being imposed on students by increasing UKT fees.

The independent route is one of the flaws for collecting funds, but ironically there are chancellors, lecturers and employees at PTNs who are tempted by corruption, how can this be minimized?

When PTS seek funding, such as the independent route, perhaps there are no problems, but when PTNs seek funding, problems arise. Even though the implementation of the independent route is intended to provide cross-subsidies for people who cannot afford it, the number of those who can afford it should not be more than 20% of the capacity. But in reality it can reach more than 40%. Meanwhile, only 5% or less of those who fall into the disadvantaged category are accepted. Why did it happen? Due to the lack of strict rules of the existing game.

Have our education funds been allocated to the core education sector, not secondary matters in the world of education?

To be honest, our APBN has mandated 20% of the budget for education. The funds allocated are almost IDR 650 trillion. However, of the funds managed by the Ministry of Education and Culture, only IDR 86 trillion (around 15%). Where do the rest go? There is a nomenclature of educational functions for regional governments, ministries and other institutions, then for LPDP and emergency funds for education.

Transferring funds to regions via DAU (General Allocation Funds) and DAK (Special Allocation Funds) can reach 50% of existing education funds. Funds for agencies that have universities and official schools reach 25%. In total, the Ministry of Education and Culture receives the least amount of funds from the APBN allocation. Meanwhile, the burden for infrastructure, salaries of lecturers, teachers, etc., lies with the Ministry of Education and Culture.

If so there is something inefficient, if higher education was centralized or standardized the Ministry of Education and Culture might be more efficient, your response?

The problem is that coordination between our institutions is not good. When institutions have educational programs, they want to do it themselves. We will ask for standardization from the Ministry of Education and Culture, for example lecturers at PTNs must have the same grades as those at official schools. Costs per student for PTN and official schools must also be the same. Because it is not standard, what does this refer to? This is what makes the distribution of education funds uneven. The biggest one is the transfer of education funds to the regions. Even then, its use is not always for education.

So this is homework for the next government?

In my opinion, the government's next homework is how to withdraw educational standards from the Ministry of Education and Culture.

In Scandinavian countries the cost of education is very cheap, can Indonesia imitate such steps with all the potential?

I just visited Scandinavia. They have been colonized by neighboring countries for hundreds of years. Their determination is not to be colonized again. One way is to improve education. All parties there agree that education is a priority up to the higher education level. Then in these countries taxes are set high, reaching 40%, and education is guaranteed. It's impossible for us to be like them, especially since the population there is smaller, in Finland the population is only 5.5 million. Not comparable to us. We have to learn from China, which has a population of 1.5 billion. India is also similar. What they do is send many students abroad on scholarships. After finishing, go back and become a lecturer in the country. From there they know where to focus? Business, manufacturing, technology, services, etc. We haven't focused, everyone wants to be embraced, in the end nothing is optimal. If you already know where the focus is, all students will be directed there, opening a major that suits their needs.

There are campuses that make thousands of study programs, after graduating students don't know what work they want to do. Nearly 70% of students choose the wrong major. That's why the country must have a vision, where we are going. So the need and the request are in line. In 2045, what do we want to master, that is what the world of education must prepare for. Whoever leads education policy must be consistent.

So there must be an educational road map so that it can be a reference for all?

Yes, our educational roadmap for where we want to go must be clear. Anything can change but education policy cannot. The problem is that education is a long-term investment, don't change the government to change policies.

Indonesia will face a demographic bonus in 2045, do you think the executive, legislative and all parties have realized and maximized this opportunity?

If I had known, I would have thought we would, we don't have an educational road map yet. President-elect Prabowo has said that if higher education could be free, this is a hope that must be realized. If you can't get it for free, it's cheap. Hopefully in the next 20 years our education will not change. So the budget is also sustainable.

Regarding the postponement of the UKT increase, is there no guarantee that the UKT will not increase next year?

The DPR, through Commission X, has mandated me to create a Working Committee on Education Financing. We have called stakeholders, PTN and PTS to provide information on what the major components of education are. It turns out that the biggest costs are facilities and infrastructure, such as buildings and facilities. Actually, it's not that much of a priority. We reflect on the Open University, which can produce many graduates despite limited facilities. We will see which ones are the most important and need to be funded by the state. Do facilities and infrastructure need to be funded by the state? This needs to be mutually agreed upon.

Another problem is the gap in educational outcomes and facilities between Java and outside Java, especially the 3T (Disadvantaged, Frontier and Outermost) areas. What can be done to minimize this?

The 3T area in all sectors must be paid attention to so that the gap is not too striking. Our friends in 3T areas cannot be like those in big cities, because the facilities and infrastructure are limited. Eight basic educational facilities must be met, such as: books, schools, teachers, etc. After that, updates to IT infrastructure, internet, etc.

If that is done, we can carry out area-based development. For mountainous areas, universities should not be related to administration, because after completion they end up with civil servants. Even though study programs related to the environment, nature, may be more needed. For those on the coast, they can develop fisheries and marine products cultivation studies. So don't force the program. Then you also need to add expensive costs for the 3T area.

It means?

The cost of education in the 3T area cannot be the same as in the Java area. There must be an extra called an overpriced fee. Maybe IDR 100 million in Java can build one class, whereas in 3T areas it's not certain. That's been the complaint all along. Indonesia is an archipelagic country, different from the United States and China which are on the same mainland. The issue of transportation in island countries is a problem in itself. Under these conditions, each region cannot be generalized.

Issues of discipline and ethics are no less important, issues related to discipline, bullying and ethics in schools are also challenges that need to be addressed, what is your evaluation of this?

Social media is a problem in many countries. America has also reprimanded social media managers for worrying about influencing the character of the younger generation. When families lack attention to their children, they will look for escape, social media is one of them. Can the world of education overcome this? I'm sure I won't be able to. It has to start at home, when a mother sees her child fussing, don't give him a cell phone. This is not correct. Education must direct children to master gadgets, not be dominated by gadgets. Teaching children to complete tasks using technology. Don't spend hours watching what's on your device, until you forget to study.

What are your hopes for the president-elect in terms of education policy?

Our primary and secondary education is almost complete. When talking about the demographic bonus, higher education is important to be able to compete with other countries. Whoever the education minister is, we will ask for a commitment regarding pursuing 16 years of education (higher education). It can be vocational and vocational education that focuses on the world of work and it can also be education that focuses on science and research. Like it or not, the budget must be a concern. Where will the funds come from, refocusing the budget which has been running everywhere. Scholarships need to be increased and provide expensive fees for 3T areas.

Dede Yusuf, Never Forgets the World That Made His Name

Before changing his role as an executive and now becoming a legislator, Dede Yusuf was an actor. He has starred in a number of films ranging from drama to action or action genre films. Even though he has metamorphosed, he never forgets the world that made his name famous.

“Almost every year there are around two or three production houses that offer me to act in films. However, with the current conditions, it is impossible for me to play the main role. Frankly, I also miss the atmosphere of film shooting, because the film world is what made my name known," said the man born in Jakarta, September 14 1966.

Now that he is a people's representative and carries out legislative functions in the DPR RI, Dede is not far from the issues of education, human resources and the creative economy in which he was previously involved. "In the DPR RI, I was entrusted with the commission that deals with education and the creative economy. So it's still very related to what I used to study," he said.

In the creative economy, continued Dede, there are 17 crafts in it. Starting from game development, architecture, interior design, music, fine arts, product design, fashion and culinary. Then there are also films, animation and video, photography, visual communication design, television and radio. Also about advertising, performing arts, publishing and applications. I think this should receive serious attention," said Dede, who is in the same class as Donny Damara and Tio Pakusadewo in the film.

He took the example of how Korea, whose independence was only two days away from Indonesia, can now move far ahead because of the creative economy. “It is interesting to learn why Korea is developing so rapidly. They have left Indonesia far behind in the fields of arts and culture as well as technology," said the actor from the film Catatan Si Boy and the soap opera Jalan Makin Membara.

Synergy Is A Must

Again, said Dede Yusuf, a creative industry roadmap is needed just as Indonesia needs a roadmap in the world of education. "Now we can see K-Pop, Korean dramas and culinary delights have spread to all corners of the world. Recently, fashion and tourism have also been brought up," said the director and actor of the film Reinkarnasi.

When the creative economy is made a leading sector, there must be state intervention. "When K-Pop becomes a locomotive, the country will support the fashion, culinary and other sectors through brand ambassadors from Korean musicians and singers. And what they did turned out to be successful," he said.

So Dede said, there must be synergy. “Can't move alone. In order to have a strong thrust. Now rendang has become the most delicious food in the world. But it's rare to find films that show people eating rendang. It's important for people all over the world to find out what rendang is," he said.

He criticized filmmakers and cinemas in Indonesia who love filming abroad. "If we shoot in Türkiye, Europe and America, our tourists will be encouraged to travel there. Why not explore filming locations in the country that are no less beautiful," he said.

Dede continued, filmmakers should choose film shooting locations that encourage people to come and travel to Indonesia. "For example, Labuan Bajo, Raja Ampat, Wakatobi and other tourist destinations," said Dede, who also made a podcast, but because he was busy as a council member, he couldn't continue filming his podcast.

The resulting impacts can be many from the creative economy. "So it encourages people to come and enjoy culinary, fashion and so on in Indonesia. That is what is called a creative economy," he said.

The State Has Not Taken Part

Like Korea, continued Dede Yusuf, the state must intervene to make the film-making process easier. "One day I hope the government will create a body or institution that makes it easier for filming permits, funding, surveys and whatever other creators need," he hopes.

The government's role, said Dede, will color the production and results of our creative industries such as films. “We cannot just let go of films made by filmmakers. If left unchecked, what will happen now is like this. Indonesian films are dominated by horror genre films. Finally Indonesia is known as a country of horror, hehehe," joked the father of Alifiya Arkana Paramita (Lifi) and Kaneishia Lathifa Zahra (Neishia).

The problem is, continued Dede, for producers they will make films that sell. “Producers are interested in making money, or profit. So the films that are made are those that sell in the market, otherwise you could suffer losses and go bankrupt if the films don't sell in the market," he said.

Now, Dede criticized, the state is still not on the side of the creative industry. He didn't say this without reason. “I know how much our Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy budget is. The budget was IDR 3 trillion a year, now it has been cut to IDR 1.7 trillion," said Sendy Ramania's husband.

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In fact, continued Dede, there is a lot of energy that can be absorbed in this creative industry. "State income from this creative economy is almost IDR 200 trillion and employs almost 22 million people, but the budget is only IDR 1.7 trillion. This means that the government is not yet in favor of the creative economy," stressed Dede Yusuf.

"Education must direct children to master gadgets, not be controlled by gadgets. Teach children to complete tasks using technology. Not spend hours watching what's on the gadget, until they forget to study,"