---

Monday, May 3, 2021 | 17:41 WIB

Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah speaking at the Indonesia’s National Education Day 2021 Webinar by APHTN-HAN, Monday (3/5/2021). Photo by Humas MK/Bayu.

JAKARTA, Public Relations—Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah spoke at the Indonesia’s National Education Day 2021 Webinar on Monday, May 3, 2021. The webinar entitled “The Dynamics of Fulfillment of Constitutional Rights in Education Amid Pandemic” by attended by 200 members of the Association of Constitutional and Administrative Law Lectures of Indonesia (APHTN-HAN).

Guntur believes the National Education Day is related to three things: educational issues, constitutional rights in education, and constitutional rights amid the pandemic. He urged the nation to reflect on Ki Hajar Dewantara, a national education figure who founded Taman Siswa. Ki Hajar Dewantara fought the educational discrimination Indonesians experienced during colonialism. He came up with the slogan “Ing ngarsa sung tulada, ing madya mangun karsa, tut wuri handayani” (setting a good example up front, creating initiative among students, and providing encouragement from behind). His idea led to concrete steps to empowerment.

Guntur believes the slogan is in line with the Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka (Freedom to Learn-Freedom Campus) program. He said the rapid changes in social, economic, cultural, and technological aspects, including in universities, also demand from universities the ability to produce graduates who have good characters and are able to face dynamic changes. Through student-focused learning models, the Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka is expected to provide ample opportunities for students to translate their needs in the world of education.

Guntur added that the COVID-19 pandemic is a great challenge because the teaching-learning process cannot take place face-to-face, but virtually. “The most important thing for education to continue with the use of technology is the transfer of knowledge to continue as targeted. The teaching and learning process is always dynamic, so education must continue to be carried out and implemented by emphasizing creativity and innovation,” he said from his office in the Constitutional Court building, Jakarta.

Challenges in Education

Guntur also talked about the national goal to develop the nation’s intellectual life through education. He believes the Constitution prioritizes education, as evidence by Chapter XII Articles 31 and 32 of the 1945 Constitution. Both articles lay out the constitutional rights in education.

He also believes that amid the pandemic, the citizens’ constitutional rights must be fulfilled following the mandate of the Constitution, despite limitations. Therefore, he urged everyone to contribute to fulfilling constitutional rights in education and to strive for a better Indonesia.

“So, let’s use the momentum of the National Education Day to reflect and evaluate our capacity as individuals or educators for a better self,” he said to academics from campuses throughout Indonesia.

Writer        : Sri Pujianti
Editor        : Nur R.
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 5/4/2021 14:49 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian version, the Indonesian version will prevail.

---