INDONESIA: Rara avis within higher education

Fasri Jalil, Director-General of Higher Education at Indonesia's Ministry of National Education, is leading a campaign to widen the country's university science base. Current science and technology undergraduate numbers are small and Fasri wants to increase them in an effort to catch-up with neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia.

Fasri is a rara avis among Indonesia's ponderously conservative bureaucrats in being proactive on issues he deems important. The Civil Service still bears the stamp of the 32-year Suharto New Order dictatorship during which time school teachers, university lecturers and administrators were members of and obliged to campaign for Suharto's political vehicle, the ruling 'party' GOLKAR.

What the Director-General sees as a shortfall in undergraduates taking up science courses is reflected across the spectrum in state and private universities. He has in mind both pure and applied science.

In a recent interview for the current affairs weekly Tempo (English edition), Fasri said: "We must also monitor the programmes which are more responsive than others, and which are unpopular because their absorption in the market is really low."

Asked for an example, he replied: "Social sciences is one area and yet only 50% of universities and institutions offer social science programmes." He went on to specify law, economics and politics, adding: "It is true that mathematics and the sciences are not attracting students although they are sorely needed (by industry)."

Fasri hopes that an increase in science graduates can help overcome what he perceives to be a mismatch between university courses and the needs of Indonesia's economy. He most recently took the opportunity to address the issue at a Science Olympiad hosted by the country's leading institution, the University of Indonesia or UI.

Held earlier this month, the Olympiad attracted students from all around the country with competitions in three subjects, mathematics, physics and chemistry. The field of thousands will soon be whittled down to some 99 for a final showdown on the UI campus.

UI hopes such competitions will be an incentive for science-studying undergraduates to deepen their interests in their subjects. The university appears to have taken inspiration for this event from Indonesia's paradoxical successes in recent years in international science Olympics for high school students, the successes coming despite a widespread lack of science facilities in the schools.

Observers point to this poverty of facilities, particularly laboratories in schools and on the campuses. This is partly a reflection of gross under-funding of the state sector as private schools tend to fare far better. Clearly, a major new investment is required in that area as it is in re-training teachers and re-valuing subjects that require critical thinking.

This would require an overhaul of course material and a move away from textbook-based learning and multiple choice testing. Interestingly, however, UI may have taken the lead for this pioneer Science Olympiad from the success Indonesia has had in recent years in International Physics Olympiads for high school students. This fact proves, if anything, that with the right incentives and encouragement the nation's students can overcome the deficiencies of the system.

The science successes of Indonesian students have not escaped the attention of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who has said that gold medallists in international Olympiads would be granted scholarships up to doctorate level.In pursuit of this, the ministry has announced that such scholarships will be extended to those wanting to study abroad.

Suyanto, Director-General of Basic and Secondary Education says: "If they wish to study at MIT, Harvard or elsewhere we will provide scholarships." This will probably cover both tuition fees and living expenses. An extension of the scholarship scheme to silver and bronze medallists is also mooted although not on such generous terms.

The ministry's greater encouragement for those wishing to pursue science education at university level has been welcomed by the veteran education reform campaigner Professor Mochtar Buchori who praises the substitution of "long-term prizes" for merely cash rewards.

'Pak Moch' (previously profiled here) says: "Students such as these usually earn scholarships in neighbouring countries (he has in mind Singapore and Malaysia) which see them as the future." Nonetheless, the professor fears the new policy may have a negative side as "it treats sciences like a favoured child, while social and cultural sciences are a stepchild".