Member of the DPR Gerindra Faction, Azis Subekti, reminded that reason is the foundation of the nation. According to him, Indonesia must strive like Japan which gave an important lesson that education must be the main residence to build a dignified nation.
Azis said, when Hiroshima collapsed into a rubble heap due to the atomic bomb explosion, the world seemed to witness the collapse of human reason. However, in the midst of the almost total destruction, Emperor Hirohito actually asked a question that went beyond the logic of war.
"He did not ask for a report on the remaining military strength, nor did he count the logistical reserves. He asked about the teachers - how many were still alive. This question marked a deep awareness: the future of the nation is not determined by what is left of the war, but by who is able to regenerate human reason and character," Azis said in his statement, Tuesday, February 3.
Azis said that Japan's post-war decision was a silent but decisive decision. They did not build a revival through slogans, but through systematic work in educational spaces.
Schools were turned into centers for the restoration of civilization, teachers were placed as honorable figures, and the learning process was directed to form discipline, responsibility, and perseverance.
"The result of this choice is not merely economic progress, but human quality transformation. Japan grew as a nation with a high literacy rate, strong innovation capabilities, and a work ethic that has become a reference for the world. All of this is rooted in one initial awareness: building human beings is a prerequisite for the revival of the nation," he said.
"Japanese history teaches an important lesson that education does not work in the form of promises, but rather through the sustainability of actions. They ensure that children grow with adequate nutrition, schools are present even in the most basic communities, and knowledge can be widely accessed. This investment forms a national resilience that makes Japan able to survive economic crises, natural disasters, and rapid global changes," he continued.
According to Azis, the mirror of history is now relevant for Indonesia. In the past year, under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, the country has begun to place education as a development axis, not just a complementary sector.
"The nutritious meal program for schoolchildren, boarding school students, pregnant women, and toddlers is a fundamental step that starts from the scientific fact that intelligence cannot optimally develop without nutritional fulfillment. A nation that wants to advance must first ensure that its generation grows healthy physically and mentally," he said.
"This step goes hand in hand with expanding access through increasing scholarship recipients, so that education is no longer a privilege for those who are economically capable. The repair of damaged schools is not only about buildings, but also the restoration of the dignity of the learning space," he continued.
In remote areas, Azis added, the construction of road access and basic infrastructure confirms that the presence of the state is a requirement for a living education.
Free boarding public schools give real hope to children from poor families to get out of the circle of backwardness, while the construction of flagship schools and the expansion of national standard high schools prepare a generation of leaders with discipline, character, and academic competitiveness.
At the higher education level, cooperation with leading universities in the UK opens up a path for the transfer of knowledge and global standards directly into the country, narrowing the gap between Indonesia and the world's centers of science.
This series of policies shows that human development is being carried out as real work, not just a narrative.
"The country starts working from upstream: from a healthy body, a honed mind, and a decent learning environment. But the Japanese experience also teaches that the country never works alone. The success of education comes from collective involvement - dedicated teachers, caring parents, a society that values science, and the business world that gives space for knowledge to grow," he explained.
At this point, said Azis, a common awareness needs to be awakened. He emphasized, no great nation is born without the willingness of all elements of society to educate their generation.
"The government can pave the way, but common sense will only flourish if we all help grow it. It's time to stop just observing change, and start taking a role in it," he said.
"From home, school, boarding school, campus, to public spaces, this is the momentum to rise together to build wisdom, sharpen intelligence, and ensure Indonesia's future is supported by people who think clearly, have strong character, and are responsible to their nation," concluded Azis.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
