Unique! Eastern Regions Varsity Constitutional Debate Competition was opened by the sounding of a slit drum at the Auditorium of the Sam Ratulangi University, Manado (11/4). Photo by Humas MK/Ifa.

MANADO, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—The Constitutional Court (MKRI) as guardian of the Constitution, does not settle constitutional cases only downstream, but also upstream. Therefore, the Court feels the need to educate the people of the citizens’ constitutional rights and will do so. Therefore, the Court organizes the Varsity Constitutional Debate Competition as a forum for young academics to cultivate the values of Pancasila and the Constitution. This was conveyed by the Head of Pancasila and Constitution Education Center Kurniasih Panti Rahayu while opening the  2019 Eastern Regions Varsity Constitutional Debate Competition at the Auditorium of the Sam Ratulangi University, Manado (11/4/2019).

In her address, Kurniasih conveyed that the debate competition is aimed to socialize the amendments to the 1945 Constitution and foster constitutional awareness, improve students’ ability to explore and understand constitutional issues, improve students’ ability to explain the articles of the 1945 Constitution and the development of constitutional practices after the amendments to the 1945 Constitution, and to develop a culture of constructive dissent in understanding the implementation of the amendments to the 1945 Constitution.

"The effort specifically carried out by the Constitutional Court in order to socialize Pancasila and the Constitution is increasing students’ understanding. The education concept is carried out through active methods of discussion, debates that build a structure and new arguments in order to solve the nation\'s problems," Kurniasih explained. The 2019 Varsity Constitutional Debate Competition is carried out through 3 (three) stages: elimination, regional competition, national competition. At present, the eastern regional has entered the second stage. The eastern regional competition covers East Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua.

National Seminar

As part of the opening ceremony of the debate competition, a national seminar under the theme “The Role of Law in Sustainable Development in the Age of Industrial Revolution 4.0” was carried out. Kurniasih said, technological advances in the 4.0 era of occurred in two major things—information and industry—with the ease and speed of obtaining updates of information, as well as the replacement of labor in the business of goods and services. "The development of information technology informs the public quickly about occurrences and influences a more modern lifestyle," she explained.

The fourth development of information technology and industry has begun to enter the community. Kurniasih views the need to appeal to the young generation that understanding and good management of these changes is important so as not to have a negative effect on the lives of society and nation.

"In this case, the main thing is to control this change by creating appropriate legal instruments so that social changes that might occur will not wildly," she concluded.

The national seminar for the opening of the debate competition will present speakers from the academia, including 2010–2013 Deputy Justice of the Constitutional Court Achmad Sodiki and Former Rector of the Sam Ratulangi University Donald A. Rumokoy. (Ddy/LA/Yuniar Widiastuti)