Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah opening the Constitution Awards X, Monday (11/15/2021) virtually from the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Teguh.

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Monday, November 15, 2021 | 12:13 WIB

JAKARTA, Public Relations—The Constitutional Court’s (MK) Constitution Awards X was opened by Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah virtually from the Court’s building in Jakarta on Monday, November 15, 2021.

In his remarks, Guntur said social changes were taking place and affecting many aspects of life. This includes the current and next generation’s understanding of the nation’s ideology, Pancasila. In the New Order, with its own social problems and technological advances, the noble values of Pancasila were cultivated through Ekaprasetya Pancakarsa, better known as the Guide to the Understanding and Implementation of Pancasila (P4). The provision on P4 was contained in the MPR (People’s Consultative Assembly) Decree No. II/MPR/1978 on P4 (Ekaprasetya Pancakarsa).

“The guide in TAP MPR No. II/MPR/1978 was declared null and void. In addition, the society has also undergone various fundamental historical changes that require novelty in the practice of Pancasila in the life of the state,” he said.

It cannot be denied that some of the spearheads in inculcating Pancasila values are the Pancasila and Civic Education (PPKn) teachers in schools, Guntur said. PPKn teachers across the country should be proud of this extraordinary mandate as the relevance and actualization of Pancasila in the future lies in future generations’ understanding and internalization of Pancasila. PPKn teachers have a big responsibility to teach Pancasila values and keeping up with the times.

However, Guntur stressed, the duty to revitalize and actualize Pancasila values lies not only with a group of people, but the entire nation. “Together we must continue to explore and find creative and innovative ways to inform the public of the development of the discourse on Pancasila and the Constitution. We must not abandon Pancasila, let alone lose against the enormity of information flow,” he said.

Use of Technology

Guntur believes that Pancasila values cannot be inculcated through boring, ordinary, conventional, outdated methods. New, extraordinary, innovative methods must be actively and creatively sought.

He added that technological advances must be used. This echoes President Joko Widodo’s statement on the Pancasila Day—new, extraordinary ways of utilizing technological advances are needed. The president also reminded and urged all government officials, religious leaders, community leaders, educators, professionals, the younger generation, and all Indonesians to unite and move actively in strengthening Pancasila values in realizing the ideals of an advanced Indonesia. In other words, Pancasila must be the foundation in developing science and technology.

Constitution Awards

Guntur stressed that moments such as the Constitution Awards must be used for driving new ideas, thoughts, and innovations in understanding Pancasila values. “The Constitutional Court as a state institution that guards the ideology and democracy, the guardian of ideology and democracy, supports all intellectual and organizational activities that lead to the re-actualization of Pancasila values. This has become a mandate for the Court as a state institution authorized to uphold the values of Pancasila and constitutionalism in Indonesia,” he explained.

The Constitutional Court, Guntur said, provides substantive justice through constitutional interpretation in the form of final, binding decisions on various legal issues that affect Indonesian citizens. However, the Court not only uphold the law through quality decisions and by upholding Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution as the main references of the constitutionality of laws and regulations, but also through a culture of constitutionalism and constitution awareness.

The Constitution Awards, he added, is not merely a routine annual event but also the state’s, in this case the Court’s, appreciation for PPKn teachers for the extraordinary dedication in inculcating the values of Pancasila and the Constitution in school and the community.

The awards targeted PPKN teachers at elementary schools (SD)/madrasah ibtidaiyah (MI), junior high schools (SMP)/madrasah tsanawiyah (MTs), and senior high schools (SMA)/vocational senior high schools (SMK)/madrasah aliyah (MA), and schools for special needs (SLB).

At the end of his remarks, Guntur said all the awards are dedicated to PPKn teachers, who must be proud as they have a noble profession and sacrifice, which not everyone can have. Thus, they deserve appreciation and special attention for their role in the ethics of future citizens. Their students could be future leaders that will play roles in the nation’s history, thus making their teachers’ teaching relevant forever. He hoped all PPKn teachers remain motivated to be creative, productive, and innovative in teaching their students.

The Constitution Awards is an annual competition between PPKn teachers in teaching constitutional awareness. Such education is a conscious and planned effort to create a learning atmosphere and process where students and/or the community actively develop their potential to have the necessary skills to become good citizens according to the rules of the state constitution, both as individuals, members of the community, and citizens.

The Constitution Awards X started with the selection of grand finalists today until tomorrow, November 17, 2021 through an interview test by 15 members of the jury from the Constitutional Court, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Writer        : Utami Argawati
Editor        : Nur R.
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 11/17/2021 14:54 WIB

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

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