Internet Access Unbalanced, Kearney: Optimizing Education Sectors Digitization In Cities And Villages Must Be Performed Simultaneously

Principal of Kearney, Ishan Nahar in Kearney press conference related to "Development of Digital Transformation for Equitable High Quality Education" (Photo: Zoom Screenshot)

JAKARTA - Kearney, a leading global management consultant, explained the results of his latest study entitled "Unleashing a digital transformation for equitable, high-quality education" on Wednesday, August 31 with media colleagues virtually.

The Kearney study shows that Indonesia will experience a demographic bonus in 2045 with a total of 70 percent of the population at productive age (15 - 64 years). Meanwhile, another 30 percent will be at an unproductive age (under 14 years and over 65 years old). The demographic bonus can be optimized to encourage national economic growth.

Kearney said that the government needs to implement a system that can support the creation of adaptive, collaborative, and ready-made workers in various industries.

According to Shirley Santoso as President Director & Partner of Kearney, digitization of the education sector can help encourage Indonesia's economic growth. Especially with the increase in e-edTech during the pandemic two years ago.

Kearney and the government realize that internet access in Indonesia is not yet even completely. Therefore, Sherly said, for areas that have good internet access, learning will be of higher quality if done in a hybrid manner. Not only in schools, but also outside of school.

"But if schools that don't have good internet access, they need support from various parties, including the government, stakeholders, the private sector, and others," Shirley said during a press conference with the media.

Shirley also revealed that optimizing the digitization of education sectors in big cities (with good internet access) and in remote areas (which do not have internet access) must be increased simultaneously.

"In my view, it must be improved together (in big cities and villages). In big cities, education must also increase, there is a mix and match between university graduates and the community who are accepted for work. Big schools must improve their education side," she added.

As for residents in the interior, the government must prepare qualified infrastructure, both for students and from the teaching side. "There must be a fairly innovative approach to improving education in Indonesia," she said.

More than that, Ishan Nahar, Principal of Kearney stated that adequate funding sources and proper investment allocations are very important to spur digital transformation in the education sector.

ICT investment in the field of education is limited to IDR 4 trillion in 2020 and is estimated to reach IDR 8 trillion by 2030, equivalent to 0.02 to 0.03 percent of GDP.

"Indonesian ICT investment is still far below 0.1 percent of the average GDP for countries with successful digital transformation in education sectors such as Singapore, Estonia, China, India, and the US," explained Ihsan.

Ihsan also said that to achieve Indonesia's ambition to become one of the strongest economies in the world by 2045, the government must be able to implement effective digital transformation in the education sector to strengthen e-learning services, build stronger digital industry foundations, maintain education ecosystems, and improve funding and regulatory environments.