Holistic education

Standard national exam was a hot topic of discussion between the government and Parliament. Commission X and even urged the government to revise Law No. 19/2005 on National Education Standards. Antarpasal conflict that is not in accordance with the national education system and education quality gap between regions are two fundamental reasons
revision under pressure (Kompas Online, 11/5/2006). The debate was long increasing instability series of national education systems.



Educational paradigm

Although the government must take responsibility for the quality of national education, the most know about the quality and the ability of the students are educators. Thus, the duty and right to give assessment pendidiklah. Determination of national standards for graduation assume the quality of education in each region the same. In fact, there is still gap between the educational process in the towns and villages, even between provinces and islands.



Determination of the minimum 4.5 provides an illustration of graduation, the government looked at the educational process is only as transfer of knowledge that can be easily measured with numbers. It reduces the determination of the meaning of education as a process of personal maturation includes the development, cognition, affection, mental, and personality.

John Dewey in the book Education and Democracy (1916) has been an integral mendengungkan educational concept based on the capabilities, needs, and experiences of learners. Reality-based education and experience of the students actually forms of resistance and criticism in the patterns of traditional education which only moved past knowledge to each new generation.



Education is not just a clever print memorize and count, but gave birth impersonal people mature. Education is not just a place to hone the sharpness of the brain, but a place to sow the basic values of life to reach the future and live in a society. The Indonesian people in desperate need of such education system, especially for the younger generation gave birth to a strong and responsible, and able to improve the lives of the nation
it.



Thus, the government insistence to continue to establish a national standard exam, just because he wanted to encourage students to work hard, will not provide sustainable positive impact for the maturity and independence of learners. Even that standard is not representative as a reference point to know the quality of education this nation.
While the revision of the provisions of Regulation No. 19/2005, as it urged the House of Representatives, will not mean the absence of reform and reconstruction of the educational paradigm.



Government task

In the context of holistic education, the government does not need to take over the role of educators to set education standards since the government does not deal directly with students. The task of government is to create conditions and an effective education system, integral, and develop educators and learners.



First, the distribution of education infrastructure and superstructure. In many areas of education facilities and infrastructure is very alarming. Lack of teachers in rural areas, many school buildings not suitable to be used, and the dedication of mental penggemblengan educator, is a big job that must be prioritized and completed government.
Very unreasonable if the government suddenly graduation standards set nationally, while the development and promotion of education is still very partial.



Second, changes in the education system from centralization to decentralization. This change is very possible the school to explore, both in program and curriculum that truly contextual, which is based on the needs of learners and integrated with the local culture and character. So the assessment standards lies in the addition level of knowledge and personal development, such as respect for others, respect differences, discipline, and responsibility for self and others.



Third, a holistic educational process also demands a learning culture among the people. Thus, the process can not dikotakkan education in formal education alone, but needs to be continuous education system between schools, families, and communities. The education process can not be separated from the rhythms of community life for the community to determine the educational process through the values and structures. Instead of education contributed to the values of society change. Building a culture of reading in the community can be the starting point for building a learning culture is.

Least developed nation's education system, not in the national examination standards to be enforced or whether Regulation No. 19/2005 was revised, but at least born a new educational system that develops the essential values of humanity. During the educational process continue having a certain model of teaching, knowledge transfer, education delivery only smart people but not necessarily true, but not necessarily expert humble, intelligent but not necessarily wiser.