Isaac Sambata

On January 27, 2012, Minister of Education in Indonesia announced the passing policy requirement that S1, S2, S3 college student, started on August 2012, should write paper which posted on scientific journal. The reason why the Minister of Education made this policy is because they think that the number of journal from institution in Indonesia is lower than Malay. They said that it becomes a challenge for them to increase it. This policy became hot issue which is criticized not only by particular circle such as education world but also by many circles who are interested and have relation in this issue. Some circle evaluate this policy is not appropriate to be applied for S1 students.  It is because not all college students intend to be an academician that’s why some universities omit writing paper as a requirement to graduate. Furthermore, the less of students’ writing habit will cause plagiarism and utilization of writing paper services. And also, government or universities need to provide special electronic space to publish students work but it will become a big problem for universities in small towns. It seems clear that Minister of education should evaluate the passing policy requirement especially for S1 college students.

                The first reason why the Minister of Education should evaluate this policy is because I think that not all campuses in Indonesia are ready to implement this new regulation. The condition of some private campuses especially the campuses which are far away from central towns definite the applying of writing journal become a cumberer. As we know that writing journal is not as easy as writing paper. There are many rules that we have to follow in writing this thing. Students need professional writing guide lecture whose can help them in facing the writing problem. Furthermore, the availability of reference books and other facilities also have to be considered by the Minister of Education.

If we see from the focus of some campuses, I see that some campuses don’t design their students to be an academician, so some of them omit writing paper as a requirement to graduate. Some campuses, including technical university mostly concern on developing their students skill in their majors. This is the campuses’ alternative way in improving their graduate’s skill.  That is why, if this new regulation also apply for them, I think that it will become a hard burden and when it is happen, it will affect their duration of studying in university become longer.

In addition, the less of reading and writing habit of students in Indonesia become one of factor which can cause negative practice. Long time before this regulation is published the utilization of writing paper services has become usual thing. Many students benefitted these services rather than writing by themselves. It is influenced by their reading and writing habit. So, if this regulation is really applied, we can guess what will happen in the future. There will be most students will take short way. And if the students take this way, it isn’t doubted that the bad quality of the graduates. 

                Those who agree for this regulation may argue that it can increase the quality of education in Indonesia. It may true but how many percent and who can guaranteed. In my opinion, I think the government should not apply this regulation for all campuses. As I said before that not all campuses are ready for this and also some of them don’t design their students to be an academician, if so, what for is the regulation should be applied for them. Furthermore, I think that there are many aspects that the government should concern on to improve the quality of education such as the availability of education facilities. How can the campuses which are far away from the central cities improve the quality of their graduate if they don’t have the sufficient education facility.

                Some may argue that writing journal as a requirement for S1 graduate can motivate writing and reading habit of student’s and also can minimize plagiarism. It is true that writing and reading habit of Indonesian’s students is really bad but this regulation, I think has no relation to increase the writing and reading habit of students. How can writing journal improve students’ writing and reading habit if it had not become their habit in their school time.  I think that writing and reading habit should have been applied when the first time they can read, not just when they are going to write journal. If some say that this regulation also can minimize plagiarism, I may agree. Students may don’t plagiarize but, as I said before that they may benefitted the writing paper services.

It seems clear that in addition to improve the graduates quality and the education in Indonesia, this regulation seems to cause some kind of problematic think such as the duration of student studying become longer, has bad impact for students which are far away from center cities, and increasing the benefitted of writing paper services. Hopefully, the minister of education can consider this regulation and can find other alternative way to improve the education’s quality in Indonesia.