Tulisan saya dalam Readers Forum Jakarta Post (26 April 2014)

Your letters: Teaching 

at learning courses

Most fresh graduates from education faculties (schools for teacher training) in universities still have good memory for the way of teaching, the material of teaching and the art of teaching. I bet so because I, myself, am a graduate from an education faculty. Near the end of the learning period, each college student has to carry out teaching practice for almost half of a semester. All theories related to teaching gained from the previous semester, are practiced at this time. 

Unfortunately, it is not supported by the quota of a job. The number of graduates of institutes is disproportionate to the number of job opportunities. Therefore, many of them work in learning courses locally known as bimbel or bimbingan belajar that nowadays have been mushrooming. The courses can employ the jobless graduates. The graduates that mostly are still jobless are finally forced to join them. 

Actually, there is nothing wrong with this kind of situation. The major problem is, if the employees (in this case the graduated students) do not know at all about the importance of a work contract. In some regions, it is a common thing if there is no specific written work contract between the employer and the employee. 

If the agreement is just shown in spoken form, it is very possible to trigger a problem in the next days. 

There are still learning courses that have no such formal work contract. As a result, if in the next day there is one side that is inflicted, no one can be blamed and sued.

I have personally experienced this situation actually. I was seduced to join a big learning course in my city; hopefully, I could broaden my ability in teaching and find my prosperity. What happened then was really not something I expected before. I asked to see my work contract but I was not allowed. 

I did not like the management and I wanted to resign, but I was not allowed to. I was so conflicted, to be honest. I gave them sound reasons for wanting to step down, but they still said no. What happened then was I insisted to resign. I stated my resignation by giving a letter. What I did is legally right. Even if I did not give a letter, it would be right too.

In conclusion, I can suggest to the graduate students who want to work in a learning course or anything like this not to accept any job or work that has no real and clear work contract. Furthermore, I suggest they not accept any job that does not respect their value and ability. 

It would be better to wait for a good and professional job rather than taking a non-professional one. We are educated graduates, so we should be able to pick the best one of them. Be successful!

Rahma Nugrahaini
Kudus, Central Java


can be checked at http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/04/26/your-letters-teaching-learning-courses.html

Tulisan saya dalam rubrik Readers Forum Jakarta Post (2 Mei 2014)

Stop psychologically 

colonized attitudes

Today, the hottest topic among people in Indonesia relates to the sexual abuse that occurred at the kindergarten of Jakarta International School (JIS). 

How miserable, knowing this uncouth deed could happen in a school, even an international-level school, which is renowned for its tight security protocol.

And how could an international-level school be run without a legal license, without fear of punishment? Can someone explain why an industry watchdog or appropriate agency had not investigated the issue earlier?

It is important to point out that the higher-level schools of JIS (primary, middle and high school) do not have the four mandatory subjects that are required in Indonesian schools. Those four “missing” subjects are Indonesian language, religion, history and civics. It almost defies logic that this school can be allowed to operate in Indonesia.

Back to the first case, a simple conclusion that can be made is most people in this beloved nation take it for granted that a prestigious school, such as JIS kindergarten has a legal license. We were never suspicious of the management or the curriculum. Most of us think that anything that is managed by foreigners, even an international-level institution, is a guarantee of quality. That everything is done professionally and everyone has the right qualifications.

This is a colonized mind-set: A feeling that foreigners are better than the pribumi (natives). It may well be an attitude that we inherited from the colonial era. 

Simple examples of this mind-set that we can see firsthand are the multiple foreigners who are asked to pose for photographs alongside the pribumi. However, the backdrop to these photographs are usually distinctly Indonesian, whether historical or not.

We need to exude a sense of dignity. Let them request a photo with us. Because the spot they stand in is our land, our own bumi pertiwi. If they don’t ask to take a snap with us, then forget them!

We should not be too proud of the fact that we can converse with them, since it also their responsibility to adapt to the local culture if they work here. 

Just be proud that our country has its own language, not a country that caters its language to foreigners. Be proud of the linguistic and cultural diversity that this country has.

Feel free to study foreign languages, become multilingual, but never forget your roots.

Rahma Nugrahaini
Kudus, Central Java


can be checked at (http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/02/your-letters-stop-psychologically-colonized-attitudes.html)